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What Kind Of Parallel Universe Is This?

I have a feeling that people will be :0'ing at this, but I love people. I know, me, the person, who if you hang out with enough, will tell you that I hate people constantly. Well, correction, I love some people. And I had an epiphany that my life without some of the people that I know would be so different, I'd be sooo boring!

Brianna Leavell, my former assistant coach for Mock Trial came to see me today. She's a role model in so many ways and she always points me in the right direction. And I'm starting to tear up because she means just so much to me, like, I'm at a loss of words. She's so mature and calls everything like she sees it. I wish I had more time to spend with her. So wise for a twenty-somethin' year old. And that's not even the half of it!

I miss Rahul so much. For everybody that didn't get to meet him, I have to say you totally missed out. He's one of my favorite alumni and bloggers. I find it sad that Rahul has to drive me everywhere even though he's younger than I am....but that goes for Megan too.

http://rhsflash.blogspot.com/2012/10/ants.html

This is one of his blogs, just thinking of him and the ants are hilarious. I remember one table pitch black because of the ants. It was disgusting. And now it's hilarious. But just keep reading some of his blogs and you'll see just how interesting (for lack of a better word) his thinking process is.

I love Ty Medd too. I know I know, most of you guys are flipping your desk or computer over, but it is true. I may not be half as smart as he is, or even sassy, but I just find it hilarious. His constant remarks about people and making fun of them for not being practical is amazing. I remember in my freshman year, I gave a speech about Satanism and said that Ty was going to hell. I'm so happy that he didn't hear about it, but now I respect him for being the person he is.

These are just some of the people that I love. Well, Ty isn't love, it's more like mad respect. I really do wonder what my life would be like without all the influences. I would regret a life like that.

It's becoming more apparent that I write about alumni and past seniors in my blogs. They really should come back. If I knew all of them (alumni that I met later) when I was a freshman, oh man, my life.... Like, Lynn Nguyen, Lewis Lomugdang, either of the Lomugdang brothers actually.... But all in good time I guess.

Watching from the Sidelines

A week ago I wrote a story for web about preseason injuries and being out for a few games. This morning, I felt the exact feeling that I interviewed others about.

I run Cross Country, and the past week my knee has been injured. This morning we had our first invitational. I wasn't able to run, but i cheered on other runners. It was really hard watching all of my friends run past. Usually I hate racing. It's stressful and I hate the pressure. Today, I wanted nothing more than to go out there and sprint the entire two miles. Not that I could have, but I wanted to.

Wednesday is our next meet, and although it's my least favorite course, I'm still super excited to be out there racing again, no matter how much it stresses me out! I never realized how much I love running until I had to go a week of practice and an invitational without doing it.

Coolest thing about my family...

I miss Britain so badly!

This house (the white one) is the house my grandfather grew up in. I think it was built in the early 1800's but I'm not exactly sure. I guess I could google it, but that's a lot of effort.  It was on a street called Rhydycar in Merthyr Tydfil (where my dad grew up). It's in a museum in Wales called Sain Ffagons near Cardiff. It's super old, and I saw the outdoor toilet... the weird thing is, is that my dad remembers actually staying in the house and using the toilet, and in the winter they had to use a hammer to crack the ice on the toilet. I know. It's insane. 

This is what the house looked like a really long time ago when my great-grandmother lived there. It's kinda old.

This is a book about the street because it's historic, blah blah blah but the cool part is that my great-grandfather was a professional wrestler and a strong man in a circus and he's in the book! There are actually a couple books about Welsh history that have pictures of my family on them: fun fact about me. 

<<< that's him. Can you see the family resemblance?

And I couldn't figure out how to make this not sideways, but oh well. The most hilarious thing in my life, is that as my dad was flipping through this book, he saw the women on the left, and was like, "I remember her!" Yeah. The women who looks like she is in colonial dress. Yeah. My dad knew her. She lived in the house next door. I mean just LOOK at her! 

The End.

Happiness

In psych we have been learning about how to be happy, to live happily, and to embrace happiness and to try and live in a constant state of it while surrounded by negativity. This week has probably been one of the happiest weeks for far in school just because of how much I realized my friends are actually my friends (love ya <3 ) and because a friend of mine that had been my Journalism buddy for three years straight is now going off to college (Mason) and it's actually been quite sad without him around. But today he came to visit in class and it felt gratifying to know that no matter how far away he is, I will be able to talk to him and still be his buddy! And I don't know if that just kick-started my happy day or if was just something that makes me view the world in a happy aura, but I was happier today than I had been in a while and this type of week will hopefully be repeated often this year.

What is your happiest experience? Have you been happy lately? If not, how can you change your views/routine to make you happy?

Being a Potter Girl

So I think it was either early this morning or yesterday (I don't know) it was released that J. K. Rowling will be continuing on in the Harry Potter universe with a short film series on TV about one of the books set in Hogwarts - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - and will be about the author of the book and his adventures. Of course, this wasn't exactly the series we wanted her to write about (some wanted the Marauders Era, some wanted the 19 years in between the epilogue and the end of the story, some wanted the series to continue and be about Harry's kids and their adventures, and some didn't want her to expand at all) but the important thing is that the Harry Potter world is getting new material, new adventures, and it will be fantastic! For me when I first heard about it, I honestly didn't care that she wasn't writing about what we wanted her to - but at least she was writing something connected to that world.

In any case, I'm excited for this and can't wait for it to come out.

This Girl Changed My Life

So for some reason today I cannot get Eveline out of my head. She is four years old and lives in Ensenada, Mexico. I met her over last Spring Break on our Mission Trip. She just stole my heart. She lives in extreme poverty being raised by her seven year old sister and the local church. Yet she was so happy and loving, at time I felt that she was protecting me more than I was her. She was always dancing and laughing with me, she stole my heart. This year over spring there is a chance I will see her again but the chances are slim because of the constant movement of the families to find work. It just is so hard to care for someone but feel helpless with her everyday needs. But I feel hopeful that I will see her soon.

How do you pronounce that again?

I love my Chinese name. It makes me proud of my heritage and makes me feel as if I'm part of something special. At times though, I really do hate how it has to be my "registered name". It has to be the one I use for any official documents, including school registration. Over the years, I've heard so many different attempts to pronounce it that I automatically tell people to "just call me Mindy". Substitute teachers and roll call make me wince. I've long since learned to listen for that little pause and an apologetic "I'm sorry if I butcher this. . ." before calling my name in any sort of alphabetical list. Sometimes people insist on attempting to pronounce it correctly, and after a few attempts I usually just smile and tell them they're really close. After a while it just kinda becomes annoying. I know it's just a little thing, and it really shouldn't bother me that much, but it does get frustrating. It would be nice to have a "normal people name". Truthfully though, I don't think I would be willing to give up my name, no matter how annoying and frustrating it gets.

The Imposter

     In language arts today, we had a "field trip" to the tech lecture hall. We had a presentation on college and where we need to be in the process of applying right now. It had a lot of useful information. We were also told to abandon or clean up any social media sites we owned. I do not have any sites, but I Googled my name instead. Pictures of me popped up from track along with some girl flipping the camera off.
     If this girl didn't look similar to me, I would not mind. But a picture of a girl flipping off the camera that looked like me popped up as the second picture. Where did this even come from? Who posted this under my name? The bad thing is, her face isn't even in the picture! I started to and am currently freaking out. Now colleges will probably see someone else's picture and think I'm a terrible person and I won't get into Princeton or University of Chicago. I hope that there is a way for them to tell who it really is. Maybe I am over reacting. Oh well...

Volleyball Weights

Volleyball Weights: Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it. I was originally going to take girls athletic weights or some similar class, but it conflicted with journalism.

In Volleyball weights, we either do so much that i feel like jelly or we do nothing whatsoever. There's no happy medium. For example, a few classes ago we did a ton of squats and core and bench presses. Plus the ladder drills, which my coordination-lacking feet simply hate. Today, though, we walked three laps on the track and then sat in the gym the rest of the period. Another time we pretended to do yoga for an entire period.

I'm glad I took volleyball weights, regardless of the fact that a ton of my friends are in athletic weights and I hardly know anyone in volleyball weights. It's great not having to do much every few class periods and I just hope that Musky's kindness lasts!

BLOG COUNT

Hey guys, I'm sure you are all wondering how many blogs you have done so far and I'm sorry to tell you I don't have that info as of now. As soon as I get time, I'll write them all down. Hopefully I'll have time this weekend, but I'm part skeptical. Besides that, know all extra blogs count for the next cycle!

Don't Mind the Guy in a Skirt

Don't mind the ginger in the skirt  with a giant coffee bean tattoo on his arm, that is Ed.

Okay I found a coffee shop that is beyond tasty and economical. The coffee is really well done because Ed has been there for 16 years. The pastries are on the big side but are way cheaper then typical coffee shops. You can tell how special this place is for him. Just saying this place is my new favorite hang out. Plus to top it off if you have an ASB card you can buy one get one free! Not a coffee person? There are multiple milkshakes too!

2600 Sunset Blvd
# 108
Rocklin, CA 95677

(916) 632-9753

Ugh, Calculus

Calculus is so different than I thought as well (senior year surprised me too). Just when you think you are good at something, something else proves you otherwise. Because of Calculus, I am seriously doubting my math skills. I thought I was doing so good in pre-calculus. This class completely ruined my life. I actually have to study for math! Who has to ever study for math? I failed my first test (still crying inside). The only thing that keeps me going is knowing I'm not the only one. There are others who share my misery! Over half our class failed that test! I don't think I will get over it...

Into Thin Air

So I'm reading Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer for English for AR. My brother read the book a few years ago and liked it, so I figured I'd give it a try. It's an amazing book.

Here's one thing I've decided through the course of reading this book: I'm never climbing Mt. Everest.

The book is written by a real-life journalist who is given the opportunity to climb Everest in order to write a feature story for a big outdoorsy magazine.He was an avid climber before becoming a journalist, so the project is right up his alley. The writing style is very interesting to me personally due to the fact that the author is a professional journalist. It's very evident that he has worked for a magazine or newspaper simply through the way he writes. 

Right from the first pages, it is easy to tell that the book will be sad. On the cover it says "A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster." There's even a picture diagram in the first few pages showing different locations where bodies were found or missing people were last seen. 

I can see why some people may find the mystery and thrill of being on top of the world exciting, but as for me, I'll just stay where my oxygen is plenty and frostbite is no immediate possibility. 

Senior year

Senior year is sooo different than every other year. I wasn't expecting it. For some reason, getting out at 12:15 everyday changes the experience. I feel like I borrow the school because I'm only here for a few classes and I don't really see my friends anymore. Well, at school. Don't get me wrong, getting out at 12:15 is pretty awesome, but I am doing two sports at once, so I have to actually use that time to work. Also, the pressure of applying to colleges is such an enormous weight, I just can't wait until its over.

comments for Juli

well I can't comment like a normal person so here ya go Juli! 

to Caitlin Payne: lines is the most stressful job ever! especially if it's an important match! 

to Juli: a party is always nice:) M5 does it well!

to Caitlin payne(rallies) - we came so close to a win! our class looks really good this year! 

Lines for varsity

    Players feel the nerves when they are playing but imagine what the refs feel. I called the lines for the Rocklin vs El Camino varsity volleyball games. Balls were flying at me. People were booing while I stood on the in/out line calling what I saw. Musky scared me when I called what I saw and he saw it differently. As we went through the games I was standing there thinking I want varsity to win but I also wanna go home. The struggle. Eventually varsity fought back. While I was being fair but I prayed that whenever they hit that it is either so far in or out that it was obvious. Most of the time they were but there were those moments where I wanted to run out of the gym crying cause I don't want to mess up. This game probably aged me about ten years because of the stress a worry I felt.

Kids these days

My little brother invited his friend, let's call this friend Bryan, over for the weekend. Normally, when kids go over for a sleepover, they are nice to those hosting the sleepover. No, this kid was just flat out rude. I love kids and all, but Bryan aggravated me so badly, I nearly cried tears of  joy when he left.
First, he tried too destroy our furniture and all things that we value. Seriously, who does that? He tried to throw my rain stick that I made in ceramics down the stairs. No way that was happening! That thing took me so freaking long to make freshman year.
Then, he pushed my two year old sister down and tried to run over her in her own toy car (you know, the one's kids can drive in). Thank goodness for him, my mother did not see, but my dad did. My dad took my brother and Bryan to the movies to keep him away from my little sisters.
When they came back to go to bed, Bryan was scared. I felt kind of bad for him. He told my mother he wanted to sleep on the couch upstairs (instead of a bed) with my brother and that he wanted her to sleep on the floor near them. She did, but once she laid down, Bryan started telling her to leave and that he couldn't sleep with her there and that she was so rude. Wtf? I was in the room next to the loft just listening. I was tempted to tell him that there was a ghost in the loft or something, but even if I wanted to, I could never intentionally scare a ten year old, no matter how bratty they are.
Is it just boys or are kids getting ruder and ruder with each generation? My sister's friends do not act like that, but it seems that most of they boys my brother invites over have no boundaries.

Stanford

   I have been going to Stanford football games for years now!!! I always look forward to fun people great food and a fantastic time!!! Laughter is the best medicine and I get my fill just in one day to last me a whole life time. Stanford's campus is beautiful I love just walking around examining the different architecture and paintings.It never seizes to amaze me! Besides the beauty that surrounds we have food fit for a king. I always feel as though a new dish comes out, I'm already full, but it looks so good I just keep eating. The people with us are basically apart of my family they seen me grow up and mature every year, every football game. We are all connect through Stanford and football. My dad was roommates with a few of them and also played football over 20 years ago. Each of them went their separate ways but each year once football season starts its like a family reunion. I love this family and am so happy I am apart of it.

Two Faced, Three Faced, Four Faced, Five!

This blog isn't about gossiping about someone. Haha, sorry if you thought that. Anyways, I think peoples' views on me are a little bit skewed. A lot of people see different sides of me. That doesn't mean I'm fake, it's just that they bring out a different part of my personality than others. Take Megan, for example. I think Megan thinks I'm an angsty seventeen year old that is pretty much just lazy and will do anything to escape work. Yes, the second half is true, but say someone else, like Leilah or Sabrina, will see a different side of me at Track. I'm loud, abrasive, and am busy a lot of the time. I make more jokes around Liz because she questions my sanity at times. When I'm near Alina, I'm usually sleepy and not energetic
. Rhiannon sees the business-y side of me.

If you ask me which side is the "real" Juli, I'd say all. It's just me, I can't really explain it, but I'm just so not one-dimensional. There are lots of things that even my best friend doesn't know that other really good friends will see as a key part of my personality and lifestyle. It's simply because they bring it out of me. I'm not keeping it a secret, but I thought this puzzled me.

I wonder if I treated everybody the same, what would they see me as? Would they accept part of me or the whole me? They might see me as a whole different person altogether. It's just a little food for thought. Do you guys do the same thing? Or is it just me?

As for the picture, I thought it was cool. So yea.

Woes of calculus

I dread calculus. Simply being in the class makes me want to jump out a window. On the top floor of the Empire State Building. Each time I open my textbook to do my homework, a feeling of doom settles over me, knowing its only a matter of time before I reach that inevitably unconquerable problem that shows up at least once every time. 

So maybe I am being melodramatic. But calculus is very quickly becoming one of my most difficult classes. I was so confident in my math abilities during pre calc last year, and then calculus just came along and smacked me in the face. 

Guess I'll actually have to study hard in math this year. 

Another week

Another week of school over! It's really kinda weird to think about it. During the school year I settle into this weird sort of endless routine that just goes on and on and on. Yet at the same time, it's still quite unbelievable that summer is over. 

In all honesty though, I need to start getting serious in some of my classes (cough calculus cough). This year isn't going to be a good year to slack off in! 

REMINDER YALL

Hey guys, I'm sure I'll say it in class, but THE DAY THE FLASH IS DUE IS THE DAY YOUR BLOGS AND COMMENTS ARE DUE. GET EM DONE! Besides that, I have been fairly pleased with the blogs and I commend everybody for actually doing it. :)

Does anybody agree we should have a party after the first Flash is done? I totally advocate.

Bram Stoker may be a genius

This weekend, besides procrastinating on homework, I started and finished my language arts book that is due at the end of the quarter. I need to get my priorities straight. I just could not put it down!
The book I chose from our list was Dracula by Bram Stoker (the original Dracula book) and might I say, it was phenomenal! It starts of a little bit slow, but definitely picks up. It was so cleverly written and has so many twist and turns. The story itself was a thriller and I love thrillers! I know that vampires aren't exactly exciting anymore, but this book reminded me of why they became so popular (you know, before Twilight). I never would have expected Dracula to be soo good, but it surpassed my expectations by a long shot. It is a book I might find myself reading again, but for now, onto book two! Maybe The Odyssey?

Family Visit

So the time has come for another three day weekend, which means for me my relatives are visiting. I should have realized this was the case and probably should have done my homework ahead of time. Instead, my warning that company was arriving was when the doorbell rang and they were entering. I ran to my room, put on decent clothes, and once I showed my face to say hello, I was immediately sent to watch all of my younger cousins and siblings. Nine hours with a ton of children  made my day more hectic than it ever needed to be. It wasn't too bad though, I love little kids!
I know I should have done my homework ahead of time, but now I have the wonderful privilege of staying up until one to finish it. My bad for procrastinating.

Camp Winthers

This weekend I embarked on my final adventure at Camp Winthers ever. It was probably my best trip yet and I am so sad it was my last year. Cross country has made such a huge impact on my life and all my teammates have become such a huge part of it. I realized this weekend how much I am going to miss it when it's over. On Friday night all of the seniors did a little speech about their experience and we all started to cry. I love everyone so much! I am looking forward to a great final season with my amazing team and best friends.

Camp Winthers

This weekend I went to Camp Winthers with my XC team. It was such an amazing week. As I sit here and bask in the glory of spider-free rooms, real mattresses, and private showers, I can't help but missing camp already.

Our team left Friday at lunch and we returned today around five. Those few days were so full of the most amazing things. We hiked around a lake, leaped over muddy ditches (which is more fun than it sounds), jumped into ice-cold lake water, stayed up until the small hours of the morning, went on the most quad-working hike you'll ever encounter, ate delicious food, acted out some ridiculous skits, and had some excellent team-bonding time.

Perhaps the best part was the time trial. Sure, it was the hardest I've run for a long time. Sure, due to the smoke and elevation I felt like I could barely breathe. And sure it was the hilliest course I'll ever be unfortunate enough run, but it was amazing. It was such a good feeling to see the improvement of speed in just a year's time, which really worked to motivate me for upcoming league meets and invitationals.

In the end, I guess I'm just saying that there's no doubt I'll be back again next year!