iPad :)

Apple released its newest product yetsterday; the iPad. This is a 9.7 inch tablet computer, in which you can physically have the internet at your fingertips. It is said that this innovation has been a work in progress for ten years. With the success of the iPhone and iPod touches, the iPad is expected to be a huge success. Everything compatible with an iPod or iPhone also works on this tablet computer. For cheaper versions, wifi is available, while the more expensive ones require a 3G connection. It also allows for e Reading, similar to Amazon's kindle. This will create competition for Amazon's exisiting eReading application.

I think that the tablet will be a success! It sounds really cool and I want to go to an apple store to check it out. I am interested to know how successful this new product will be, or if the iPhone will be preferred. Some say that it is simply a "cousin of the iPod touch" but I think it is even better. It is a giant touch screen, in which you have access to abundant amounts of information! It is customizable and even bigger than any of apple's other products!

Just Dance

My parents own the Beach Hut Deli in Yuba City. We opened it in 2006 and it has been a success ever since. People enjoy coming in and its cool because i get free food whenever i want. We just started having Beach Hut parties every two weeks on fridays and they're really fun and people love to come. My mom hired a DJ who comes and plays all kinds of music all night long. It's usually pretty packed and it gives people some time to drink soda, eat some sandwiches and of course, dance. Last friday was the my third time going, and it was a lot of fun. My sister and my mom were dancing and the music was blasting and everyone had a really good time. My friend Alicea came with me this time and we brought my camera and were taking pictures and videos of parents who were dancing on the dance floor. Overall, it was hilarious and we had a blasssttttt.

Who are we to judge?

“We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation. It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it's another to think that yours is the only path." -Paulo Coelho

It is human nature to judge others. Whether its because their style is different than yours, or because you don't agree with the choices they make, everyone judges. I will admit that I have done my fair share of judging, sometimes without even knowing the situation. Recently I've become friends with a couple people who I used to be extremely judgmental towards, and its got me thinking.

Why do we judge people?

Is it because it makes us feel better about ourselves?

Or is it because we find it entertaining to discuss someone else's faults?

I mean, no one likes being judged, yet we find it perfectly acceptable to judge others.

Well, I'd like to kick this social habit.

Hello

Hi. My name is Ashley. I'm a lesbian. You may have seen me walk around school holding some girl's hand. She's really just my best friend. You guys still stare though, in shock and awe that something so outlandish would ever happen at whitebread Rocklin High. I'm not particularly sorry. I find it amusing that you allow yourselves to be so afflicted by other people. It's a bit sad how judgemental you can be, and that you think I don't hear your comments as I walk by. It's all good. I know I'm just fine diddlely fine with me, and that's all I really care about. I had to blog about something, so I thought I'd give you the courtesy of confirming any suspicions as to my "heathen ways" and letting you know that you are a bunch of uptight repressive white kids with nothing better to do but allow brainwashing to set tolerance and peace back X amount of decades. Kudos Rocklin, kudos.

Oh, and C = P. Some know what I mean ;)

What's going on

I'm very excited because I'm going to graduate early!! So instead of graduating in two years I'll be graduating next year, at the end of my junior year. I'm going to Sierra right after so it won't be that much of a "new place" because so many people I know are going there. It does mean I won't get to be in Journalism III next year though, because I won't have enough room. I have to fit in a VAPA, but I'm taking Photojournalism instead so I can stay within the general "journalism area."
Shilpa and I finally got the King Tut field trip started and we're now going on Feb 24. Or maybe it was Feb. 23. Well, sometime in February.
The mock trial tournament is this week, so I'm finally glad our 3 months of hard work is finally going to pay off. Our team is really good and I think we have a good chance of going to state.
And, lastly, I have gone almost 1 year without drinking a soda!! 2 February 2010 will be the 1 year date. : ) I stopped drinking it because it was just a bad habit that had gotten out of hand. So I'm very happy.
Now it is 8.22 and it is time for me to go watch tv.

Social NOTworking Websites

These days everybody from your little sister to your grandmother is on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, or some other social networking website. I used to be one of those people who checked my Myspace daily and updated my Twitter constantly, until a few months ago when I decided to delete all of my accounts on those kinds of sites. I've noticed that since I've gotten rid of them, I've had sooo much more free time! More time to actually interact with people rather than just tweet @ them or comment their myspace. And anybody can realize that the concept of these websites is dumb. I mean why kill hours each day looking at and commenting people's Myspace profiles. And I've noticed that most people try to make themselves come across a certain way via their profile, while in reality they are not like that. And what is the point in allowing others to stalk your every move by Twittering what your doing every minute of the day. Though these websites seem stupid to me now, at one point I was totally hooked. I think more people should try to stop using these websites for a while and they will most likely enjoy all their extra free time no longer spent creeping peoples' profiles/twitters.

Sugar!

I just read an article about the top 11 foods with high sugars, contained not only in desserts, but in regular food products.

I also found the lead quite interesting! (You can follow the link to read it.) http://health.yahoo.com/experts/eatthis/42403/11-foods-your-dentist-wouldnt-touch/
It made me think of how even something completely out of the ordinary and random can catch someone's attention and maybe make them laugh, too! Anyway, here is some of the facts I found surprising about some of the foods.

Number 11 was Del Monte canned peaches, and had as much sugar as 3 Rainbow Popsicles. Quaker Natural Granola Oat, Honey & Raisins cereal was number ten, and had 12g of fat and 30g of sugar, which is the sugar equivalent of 2 scoops of Fudge Tracks Ice Cream! Might as well eat the ice cream, since it's so similar! At number seven was Lunchables Turkey, Cheddar, and Crackers with 22 g of fat and 61 g of sugar. Sugar equivalent: 6 Reese's Peanut Butter cups!

If you want to find out more of the Top 11 sugary foods, or their better alternatives, you can go to the website to read more.

So Ready!!

I am ready for a vacation!! I hate the rain and im sick of this weather, I want it to be warm! Me and my friends have been trying to plan a trip together and im really hoping it falls through. Its just really hard because most of my friends work, in cluding me and its hard to all get the same days off. But my dream vacation with my friends is to take a road trip to LA and go to Disneyland and the beaches. Hopefully soon this with come true because im sick of Rocklin and I need a break and some fun time. Im pretty much stoked, that is if it comes true. Im crossing my fingers. :] Woooo!

"Pants on the Ground"

Larry Platt at first glance may seem like just another person auditioning for American Idol determined to get their 15 minutes of fame. During Atlanta auditions for Season 9, the 62 year old performed his original song called "Pants on the Ground" about teenagers "sagging". The song was both humorous and catchy and became instantly popular. Simon even said, "I have a horrible feeling that song could be a hit." He may seem like just another William Hung, but most people do not know the true man behind the song. General Larry Platt was Civil rights activist and a student of Martin Luther King, Jr. In Georgia, there is even "Larry Platt Day" to honor him. As amusing and enjoyable his audition was, Larry Platt should not be known just "The Pants on the Ground" guy, but as a true hero.

SDSU :)

Last night when I checked my email I discovered that I have been accepted to San Diego State!! I was so excited :) I'm not exactly sure where I will end up going to school because it is one of the six that I have applied to, all of which I like. I always used to believe that the only road for me was to go to a UC. But as I began to tour the campuses and listen to Mrs.Cutts it seems to me that the hands on teaching of the state schools is much more personally suiting. As of now I am a biology major there, a biology major at Azusa Pacific, and Clinical Nutrition. I'm excited to see what happens, starting my life off on my own. I think the choice will largely come down to money like everything else in this economy.

Doggone Sad...

Pet owner's can understand the special bond that is shared with their pet. You treat them as just another member of the family, and ever since my dog had to be put down on Monday, I came to realize how important her companionship was to me. Of course, there are those few obvious differences between an 'animal' family member and a 'human' family member, but I figured out a couple others as I said my last goodbyes to my dog/best friend. I never cried that hard in a long time (since my grandma passed away... I think). But this experience was definitely different. The vet we had explained to me one reason. When these animals are sick, they suffer in silence. Not only do they not have any way to talk to us and tell us how they feel, all they do is try to please us. Despite how much pain they are in, they continue to be that companion they have always been. Another difference is that a pet is most often going to die before thier owner. This is the hardest part. For me, I got out of school early to go say goodbye to my dog, who was located at Loomis Basin. When they brought her into 'the room,' I couldn't help but hate myself for watching my dog being led to her death without her having a say in it or even knowing what was really going on. It took me a while to get over, I guess you could call, selfish ideas that we should have just let her wait it out and die naturally, but my parents and the vet convinced me that she was truly in a lot of pain, and putting her down was the right choice. I've come to accept it, but as I walked back into the house, I automatically felt an emptiness. My dog was truly something more than a dog. She was a very important part of my life, and I will miss her dearly:)

Back To School

Ive been back to school for three days and I am already ready to be done. I think I have always been ready but now Im ready for college. It's not that I don't like school but i feel like it doesn't really make a difference if I finish senior year or not. I am ready to go on to bigger and better things and get out of Rocklin. I think I have offically made up my mind on college and I am moving to Connecticut and moving in with my dad. I am super excited.

Idol of America

So, auditions began last night for American Idol. As I had hoped, they were hilarious. People with absolutely no singing skill step in front of the judges, and got offended when they are told that they are absolutely terrible. There were some outstanding singers, however, so this could be a good season. I expect more hilarity in the coming weeks out of the auditions, which is the only part of the show that I watch. Next year, however, I may not watch at all, now that I'm hearing Simon Cowell is quitting. That makes me sad. Very sad. He's absolutely hysterical because he's so honest, and it's funny watching people argue with him after they have just given a horrible audition. I just hope someone else who is tough but fair replaces him, so that not every contestant that the judges feel sorry for gets in.

A Kinesiologist says "My insides are cranky".

So I mention to my mom that all of the knuckles in my fingers, my knees, and my right shoulder hurt and she, of course, thinks it's life or death and calls my grandma to see what vitamins I should take. My grandma suggests going to a Kinesiologist.
Three weeks later:
I went to a Kinesiologist yesterday and the way she described my health is my "ears, skin, kidneys, and pinneal gland are cranky with me."
CRANKY, she said. Not "they're not functioning like they should" or anything else normal-sounding, she said they were cranky with me.
Ok so what does that mean? Basically I need to detox. She found this answer by placing a series of mini bottles of vitamins on my stomach and pushing on my arm. If my arm didnt hold up against her push, then that vitamin wasn't right for me, but if it did, then it was the right one. She did this for every single bottle and tube or minerals, herbs, metals she had.
So now, I have to take 157$ worth of vitamins twice a day to detox, then she's going to see how "cranky" my insides are at the follow up appointment next wednesday. Its only 5 different kinds of mineral vitamins, but its 157$!!
Quite the experience......

Best Mom Ever?

An awesome thing happenned to me yesterday that NEVER happens (at least to me). I had a doctors appointment at 8:45 AM so my mom took me in the morning. After, she said she had a meeting that she really did not want to go to so instead she took me out ot Denny's for breakfast.

After that she then asked me if I even wanted to go back to school. I quickly told her I did not want to so she called the school and told them that I was not feeling the best. That's right, I got to play hooky with my parent's permission. Needless to say yesterday was an awesome day.

90s Cartoons

The theme for Runaway being 90s cartoons, I started thinking about the ones I enjoyed watching when I was younger. Although I don't think I ever watched a whole lot of TV, there sure are a lot of shows that bring back fond memories.

MY TOP TEN:

10. Rocket Power

9. Franklin

8. Catdog

7. Doug

6. Recess

5. Rugrats

4. Blue's Clues

3. As Told By Ginger

2. Hey Arnold

1. Little Bear

So, which '90s cartoons take you back?

I FOUND IT!

Hey Flash staff. I had an AWESOME moment this weekend, so I'll share it with you all.
I was looking for one of my Sims games that I could lend to my friend, Chad, on Saturday, and when I threw my hand down one of the boxes, I pulled out $73 from when I used to work at Mels about 3 years ago.
Working at 14 wasn't the best experience that I've had, but I got some money out of it, and apparently a stash of $73 three years later.

IT WAS AWESOME!

HELLO!

Hey my peeps! I haven't done a blog in a while so I might be a little shabby, so I apologize for any blogging mistakes I make in advanced. Ok, well, right now I am just trying to organize everything I have to do in the next couple of months. So, I am just going to list the things and you guys can understand why I am so stressed out.
One person show(theater 4)
Choreography for dance show
One act play in theater 4
Lesson plans for peer teaching(theater 1)
Rehearsing for the musical ("The Wiz")
Getting my liscence
Practicing to sing national anthem
Practicing for talent show
AP Test(AP Gov)
SAT's
Scholorships
and all of the great tests that my teachers will bestow upon me!
Now, I call that a fun last semester of highschool. Anyway, I just can't wait to graduate. Once this semester's over, I'll be free as a bird! Well, till the next week after when I'm going to take a summer class at Sierra College. I think my favorite thing that I'm about to go do it get my vocal lessons and learning to play piano. I do want to perform for a career along with journalism, so I need all the utensils to get me headed down that path. My plan after highschool right now is to get a job along with taking a summer class at Sierra College, then I am going to go to that school for 2 years, then move to Sac State, then either go to UCLA or a school in New York. I have big dreams, so hopefully they'll be accomplished. Wish me luck! Seriously.

Looking back

Looking back at this past decade you realize just how far everyone has come, including yourself. 2000 doesn't seem that long ago, but when I really think about it I was only eight years old, halfway through second grade. I was the same age as the kids I teach now, and still much younger than the sixth graders I just started teaching. I was learning punctuation, addition and subtraction. Now I'm learning concepts of AP Statistics. It is incredible to see just how far we have all come in just one decade, and now this is the class of 2010's year to GRADUATE. I remember when kids my age got their first e-mail accounts, many would put 2010 at the end of their account name because it was a goal; it was a year so far off into the future that by that time we would have more "mature" e-mail accounts besides "puppylover2010" and it was a year that we knew everything would change. We come more into ourselves than ever before now that we realize we have so much responsibility with college and planning our futures, and now is the time we really learn about ourselves and how we will handle things living on our own. We are so lucky to be the Class of 2010 because not only are we graduating and becoming adults this year, we are starting the decade off with this monumental moment that will change the direction of the rest of our lives. Let's go seniors, this is it.

First Week :)

This week went by so fast! Over those two relaxing weeks of break, I did forget how tiring school was. I am not used to waking up early, but getting back into routine has been actually been pretty easy for me. With homework and running after school, I have really been forced to get back into school. I have done pretty well with my New Year's resolution, of not overstressing out too much, this week. I am excited that it is the weekend now though! I am hoping to get ahead on some homework, to make next week a little easier. I feel more ready this semester to take on the challenges of school, and balance out school, sports, and clubs a little better!

Dreaming Spanish

This morning I was actually HAPPY when I woke up! The reason- because I remembered my dream quite well, and a lot of it had been in SPANISH! I've been working hard to improve my Spanish, and this year, I'm taking AP Spanish. So, I thought it was awesome that I was speaking and understanding Spanish in my dream! I mean, this must mean that I am improving and that Spanish is coming a lot more natural to me! My dream was weird like usual, but the main reason it included Spanish was because there were two people in my dream (I do not know of them in real life) who spoke Spanish and English, and I asked them to speak Spanish with me because I needed practice. Also, I think my brother and I were speaking Spanish together like we do in real life every now and then. iFue mi sueño favorito!

Winter Break !

During winter break I went up to Mt. Shasta and spent Christmas with my family and my grandparents. Both sides of my family live up there and are in walking distance between the two houses. My dad's parents have two snowmobiles, a boat, and a quad so we always seem to be occupied when we are there. On Christmas Eve we left Rocklin and went up to Mt. Shasta to spend Christmas and the weekend with the family. Christmas Day we opened presents and stockings, and had a huge dinner. Then the day after Christmas my dad, grandpa, and my little sister and I went up to Deer Mountain to go snowmobiling for a couple hours. There was a lot of snow up there and it was extremely windy. We went up to the top of the mountain and ate lunch up there. It was beautul and had such a great view. Then we came home around four and went over to my mom's parents house to open presents and eat dinner. Overall it was a great break and i love how i always get to spend Christmas with both sides of grandparents .

Still on Winter break

Wel l I am still in Connecticut, While everyone is at school and starting the new semester I am watching tv and hanging out with my dear old dad. However, I am looking at colleges, I actually looked at one today. Im getting really excited about graduating high school. I am deffinately done in Rocklin.

This winter break has been the best ever. Spending time with my brothers and God daughter and cousins and uncles and aunts and grandparents and friends. I just dont want to leave ever. It has been amazing and I am deffinately dreading getting on that plane Saturday. ew.

Dear Jack

Last night, I went over to my friend, Stephanie's, house to hang out and we ended up watching this movie called "Dear Jack". "Dear Jack" is about the lead singer of band, Something Corporate, and creator of Jack's Mannequin, Andrew McMahon. At the age of 22 his musical career was taking off with Something Corporate. Andrew left Something Corporate, his girlfriend and family to embark on a new journey that led to the discovery of Jack's Mannequin. He finished his first CD titled, Everything in Transit, and started touring. A couple months later in May of 2005, he was feeling weak and ill. He went to a doctor in New York and found that the blood tests came back odd. The doctor said it could be anything from managable anemia to life threatening lukemia. And on June 1, 2005, he was officially diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He chronicled his time in the hospital with a video camera, and that footage eventually led to the making of "Dear Jack". Andrew has now been cancer free for around 4 years and still creating music.
Watching this documentary really hit home with me. This past September I lost my grandfather to cancer. I know this is not the same situation as this movie but I am looking at this new year in a completely new light. Everything happens for a reason. Even in your darkest hour, find something to pull you through. Music literally saved Andrew's life and I can't wait to see that in person when I go to his show in February. I have found a new inspiration for this year and I cannot wait to see what the end of my senior year and college has to offer. Good luck to everyone in this new year and smile, life goes on.

My friend in Kenya

A couple days ago, I finished writing a letter to Samuel. Samuel is a 10-year-old boy who lives in Kenya with his grandparents. I've never met him, and I've only seen one picture of him. This summer, my brother and I decided to sponsor Samuel together through an organization called Compassion International. For $32 a month, we provide him with food, clean water, education, clothes, health care, and other life-enriching opportunities to this boy who was born into poverty.

One very cool part about the whole thing is that we get to write letters back and forth with Samuel. A few weeks ago, we received our second letter from him. He wrote it in English! His handwriting is actually better than many people's who have grown up in Rocklin, and his grammar is great for English being his second language! Samuel wrote about several different things about his life, and his letter was so sweet. I am so thankful to be able to make a difference in his life! So far, it has been an awesome experience!

pleeease always wear your seatbelts...

my christmas break activities::

- Mall of America.
Minneapolis, Minnesota. Considering it had four floors and over 500 stores, I thought it was kind of disappointing; The fact that they have 3 Victoria Secrets and 2 Fossils and 3 or 4 of multiple other stores doesnt help. Mostly novelty stores like sports gear, M&Ms, Barbie, Mall of America gear, etc. Plus a Nordstrom, Sears, Macy's and Bloomingdales.The only good stores that I had any interest in were American Apparel and an amaaazing shoe store. The center of the mall is the 'Nickelodeon Universe' with all the rides and attractions. [The roller coasters aren't too bad either, despite the fact that they were made for 6 year olds. Theres three roller coasters, a swinging hammerhead thing that had 30 ppl on at once, a water log ride, and a huge agility course.

-Snowmobiling for the first time

Soooooooo much fun. After two days at the mall of america, we drove more north to Isle, MN, where we got a cabin for two days and snowmobiles for 8 hours. The speedometer said they could go up to 120mph, but we raced a lot and none of us (me + 3 ppl) could get them past 65. my dad and i fell off about 10 times between the two of us, going too fast on turns.

-My first car accident
Not so much fun. Icey freeway, 65 mph, semi-trucks everywhere, bridge over a river. The car turned and faced oncoming traffic (a semi and some other cars) from the direction we were just driving from, and a second later we flipped once on the driver's side (my brother was driving) down the embankment and the back winshield shattered.... HATED it.
PS, if i wasnt wearing a seatbelt, i wouldve probably broken my neck or worse, so always wear your seatbelts. please.

A Very Different Year

About thirty hours ago I left Ecuador for the United States--I spent seventeen days there and it was nowhere near enough. I think that the best part of going was the people I met and the opportunity it gave me to speak Spanish; when I met the family of my friend that I went with I had to rely on my grasp of Spanish to communicate and, slowly but surely, I became better and better at speaking it. This was the first Christmas I didn't spend with my family, though, and I made sure to call them that night (in Ecuador, they celebrate Christmas at midnight). I am already missing the food--my favorite was mote y chicharron and now I'm desperate to find a restaurant that sells that, perhaps in San Francisco.

BREAK!

Well coming into break I was very excited for christmas and the New Year! That all came to an end Dec 24th when I slept my way through Christmas dinner. I had a cold and couldn't stay awake. The morning came, yay chrostmas I thought, but no. The only thing I asked for for christmas was not clothes! All I got was clothes! And not even like Alfani or Mens Wherehouse. It was Old Navy! So that stunk. And keep in mind I was still not feeling well. The next morning I felt a little better, so I went and played football with all my friends. Again not smart! I seperated my shoulder and got my 7th Concussion! Then on New Years I had a good time (#20) ha, but I also got hit with the Flu, in the middle of the night! And to top it all off my mom has been gone since the 26th. I was injured and sick, so I didn't bother with laundry. FML Now it is time to go back to school. Great Break....

2010 is ticking me off.

Saturday, we were two days into the dang new year. Saturday, my family got a phone call from a relative that rarely calls unless it is bad news. Saturday, I heard that my great-uncle had a heart attack and has a sixty to eighty percent chance of surviving because his kidneys are failing and he needs surgery in his heart. Sunday, I went to go see him. He was conscious, which was good. However, I have decided that this new year is already headed in a really bad direction. To say the least. I just hope he does alright. It's amazing how one little phone call can change your mood from happy to crappy.

This Christmas...

Want to no what I did for Christmas? Well don't ask because I didnt do anything... I notice that as I am getting older, my parents aren't taking Christmas as seriously as they used to. When I was younger and still believed in Santa Clause, it seemed to me as if we had this annual family tradition where the family would come up Christmas Eve, spend the night, wake up Christmas morning to open gifts, go to church, and then go to the snow. Those were the best Chrismtases. The Christmases that made me look forward for the next one. It used to be my favorite time of year. A time to see all the family together. But once I got into Jr. High, these family traditions began to fade. Family stopped coming up and Christmas seemd to lose all its charm. There wouldn't be anything to look forward to and Christmas turned into just another day of the year. Well the same thing happened this year. We had a family dinner the first Saturday of break, so I guess that counts for something. But on Christmas day, I was alone. No parents, no friends. No one. Just my dog and the television. My parents went to someone's house while I stayed home with my sick dog. THe exact same thing happend for New Year's Eve. I was alone while my parents went out to do something. For the past four years that is how it has been. So one of my 2010 New Year Resolutions is to take family matters into my own hands and plan the best Christmas and New Years ever:)