Back

Summer, as usual, got busy - I spent more time than I thought with my cousins at my grandparents' house, less time than I would have guessed doing Night Games, and tons of time practicing the piano, organizing my desk and other parts of my room, and thinking about school.

So, school is back in. It became astonishingly overwhelming incredibly fast. I was having a hard time keeping up with my practicing and spending hours on homework that I couldn't spare. Losing sleep and skipping meals and feeling half-dead all the time were some things that were happening, so my mom decided I had had enough. She talked to my guidance counselor and I've had a change in schedule - I'm no longer in the GT (Gifted and Talented) classes. They don't count for college and I personally think they are meant for those who would be bored out of their minds in a normal class, so they're just not worth it.

I'll still technically be in GT science (because it really isn't different from the core science class), but for history and English, I'm done. I'm excited to meet new people and be with some of my other friends that I haven't had classes with, but I'm really sad to leave those in my GT classes. I went all through seventh grade with them and was planning on going through eighth grade too - but it became too much. Maybe that's my fault for spending more time than needed on homework, or getting less sleep that I should have, or maybe it's a change that was meant to happen. Maybe I'm just not cut out for it, at least right now. But for all my friends I'm leaving - I'll miss you! And to my other friends that I may get to see more often - I'll see you soon!

Free Time

School has been out for a while now. I've been busy, but not really busy. Just busy with fun things - going to Seven Peaks Water Park, floating pine cones down the streams at Liberty Park (as well as going on some of the rides at the mini-amusement park), swimming all the time, sorting papers and throwing out old assignments, amusing myself by watching Brandon play with my Playmobil toys, playing games on the computer, listening to the radio, reading...but I've hardly spent any time with friends. That is one thing I've missed out on this summer - so far. I'm heartily looking forward to Night Games. I'm also excited for some trips I am planning on. This year, instead of going on vacation everywhere, my family is doing staycation stuff: going to all of the fun places that are in our area. Of course, we'll go on one or two short trips out-of-state (my mom and I are heading out to NYC to see Wicked on Broadway!!! ☺☺☺), but we'll mostly stay around here. I'm happy about that. Last summer I got barely any time with friends, I was gone so much. But this year, that will change.


The last day of seventh grade was crazy. And happy. And really exciting. School's out! But of course, I came close to tears. I knew I would. I'll miss a lot of people that I made good friends with. Classes involved taking pictures, playing Ninja, and saying lots of good-byes. It was a wild day with emotions up and down and all over the place. This is one reason I love school - it's a people place. It's a place where you can be yourself. And of course, it's a place to learn; not only school subjects, but social skills and who you want to be. Junior High is amazing and I can't wait to be back - but for now I'll enjoy my free time.

This Weekend

This past weekend was a ton of fun. My family awoke early on Saturday, packed up and drove nearly four hours to Arches National Park. Looking back, it seems like a short trip; when we got there, we went to the one and only campsite in the park: Devil's Garden. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived it was full. So we ate lunch then drove to the starting point of the hike to the Delicate Arch. When we were hiking, we somehow managed to get lost from the trail - but we still found a way to the arch, even if it was from a different angle. But since we came from another viewpoint, we had a difference experience with the arch. After having some pictures taken, we went over to a cliff that branched out from the main area. From that point, we could see something that not many of the visitors of the Delicate Arch could see; there was a sheer drop-off, nearly five hundred feet tall. It was astonishing. Pictures can do it no justice - you have to see it for yourself. If you haven't gone to Arches National Park, GO. Even the drive there is spectacular.

We searched for a campsite in Moab to no avail. There was some big event going on, and everywhere was packed. So we decided to just go home, since there didn't seem to be any campsites we could stay at. But half an hour away from the city in a little town called Green River, we found a perfect place to stay overnight. There was grass, trees and even tumbleweed and sticks lying around that were perfect for burning. We constructed a fire and made hobo dinner with chicken, potatoes, carrots, and onions. If you haven't tried it, that stuff is heavenly. The site even had Wi-Fi, and my dad checked his email in the tent for the first time. It was awesome.

When we go home, there was unpacking and cooking to be done. My grandparents came over for dinner and my piano recital. I was pretty nervous and extremely tense throughout the program, but everything went well. I'm not sure there was one person that didn't mess up in the slightest, though many did a great job and my parents and I were especially proud of my work. I had a wonderful weekend!

Five More Years (at least)

So, if you hadn't heard, I'm not moving - for the next five years (at least). My dad matched here for the transitional year and residency. It will be one very hard year for my dad, but it is a relief that I don't have to move. I'm really glad. And now we have the whole summer to look forward to!

The Next 5 Years

Next week, on Thursday, March 18, 2010, I will find out what the next five years of my life will be like. It is a very special day - Match Day for all the medical students at the U, including my dad. I may move to the east coast for a year, then come back, or I may not move at all. Or I could move somewhere nowhere near the east coast or Salt Lake City. I don't know. But I'll find out in less than a week...and I'm pretty nervous. That is one of the main topics in conversations I have with anyone nowadays. All my friends want me to stay here, and that is a possibility. But whether I leave them or not, they are planning to throw a Night Games party to celebrate or say good bye. And whatever happens, I know that it happened for a reason, and I'm okay with it.

We'll see.

Science Fair

This is a kicker, so I thought I should share.

A while ago, we had to do our science fair projects, which involved conducting an experiment of some kind. My experiment was taking different measurements of vinegar and baking soda for a film canister rocket. Everything went well, and I did a good job on my presentation, but I got an A- for a couple of small things. In any case, I brought my project to the actual science fair today. First the judges studied all of the projects and gave them grades, then parents, siblings, and students could come in and look at all of the posters. After school today I had play practice and then I just waited a while until the fair so I wouldn't have to go home and come back. But after almost an hour my family left because there weren't many people and I had homework to do. There was the prize ceremony nearly an hour after we left, but I figured it wouldn't be worth going to. Then I got an email from one friend saying that I was amazing, that I had won first prize in the science fair, and I wasn't even there to get my trophy. I sent her a message saying that she must be joking; I had an A- on the project. There was no way I could have won. Then another friend called, and congratulated me on winning first prize for the science fair. I could not believe my ears, but I knew she wouldn't make that up and plus I had also received the same notice in the email. Now I feel like an idiot - winning first prize, and not being there to claim it. So lame. But I'm excited to go to school tomorrow, and get my second trophy in my life. And tell this story to all of my friends. :)

Life certainly takes many unexpected turns. And sometimes they are really good ones.

Valograms

For Valentines Day my school is doing valograms, where you can pay a dollar to send a chocolate rose to someone (you need to know their seventh period class though) or fifty cents to send a sucker. All the money raised is going to Haiti this year, which is good because I was feeling a bit guilty for spending seventeen dollars on my friends. Do you think I went overboard?

Happy Valentines Day (in ten days)!!!