Kendra's Epic (and Painful) Fail

I had play practice today at 1:30.

I rode with my grandma after church, and she dropped me off at the Students' Center, where it was supposed to be. It was POURING down rain, which was fine with me :D I love storms.

I went up to the door and walked in. However, the second set of doors were locked. Great, I thought. It must not be here after all. I know they told me it was here! I turned around and headed back for my grandma's car.

Only she drove away.

I ran after her a little, but in the rain I'm sure it was hard for her to see or hear.

I really did not want to walk to the other building in the rain. I tried calling different people in the play, but no one would answer. Finally I decided to cowgirl up and walk through the deluge. I picked up my bag and water bottle and went over to the other building.

What the heck. No people.

Frustrated and confused, I guessed that I must have been totally wrong and practice was at the high school and not the college. The high school really wasn't much farther, so I figured I'd just walk. I took a deep breath and set out in the rain again.

Note to self: Even if you are planning to dance barefoot like everyone else, do not wear high heels to play practice. End note to self.

"At least now I can really relate to 'Eliza' running through a rainstorm," I muttered, trying to shelter my bag full of journals and books for when I wasn't dancing. I called both my parents to let them know to pick me up at the high school, but they were still at church. There's no cell signal at my church building. *sigh*

I walked a long way, but my feet were starting to blister from the heels. So I shrugged and took them off. I mean, this is ME we're talking about. I prefer barefooted anyway.

Also being me, the twisty country roads didn't bother me. The possibility of redneck creepers didn't bother me. Blisters didn't bother me, walking didn't bother me, rain didn't bother me. What DID bother me?

WHAT IF THERE WERE LOOSE DOGS??

The terrifying thought plagued me (XD).

After about twenty minutes of walking, I started to get worried. I didn't remember the high school being this far away. It was only about a five-minute drive, surely I wasn't THAT slow of a walker. I pressed on.

I tried calling my parents again to ask them how far they though I would have to walk. Still no answer. I tried calling Ellie 'cause I was bored and starting to be more than a little worried. Someone to talk to would have been nice. She didn't answer either. I tried Kyle, but, again, no answer.

By this time, I'm really worried. There was no way that I'd passed the high school, but there was also no way that I shouldn't have come to already. I didn't know what to do. So I kept walking.

Finally, I either got a hold of my momma, or she called me. I can't remember which. But I told her what was going on, and she was a bit freaked. I guess I don't blame her. I was in short shorts all alone on a redneck country road. Prime target for a creeper. I hadn't really thought about it that much XD Creepers I can handle.

But dogs. Not so much dogs ;D

So, my mom agreed with me that I couldn't possibly have not come upon the high school. We talked things through, and guess what?

Basically, I had made a wrong turn >>>>>>.<<<<<<>.<>.< Gosh, I ruined everybody's everything, and it's completely my fault! And my feet hurt XD

So, today has been pretty fail, and I don't know how to make up the practice. We'll see how it goes.

You know what's weird though?

Those of you who know me know that I tend to freak out. Someone ate the last hot chocolate, someone stepped on my toe, someone took my bracelet, I have to try a new food, all that = KENDRA FREAKS.

But when something really weird/scary happens, I'm perfectly fine. I shrug off the freaked-out-ness and figure out what to do.

I'm so strange XD

Anyway, I just thought I'd share one of my biggest fails yet :D I'll call it "Kendra Gets A Time Wrong And Makes A Wrong Turn And Ends Up Making Her Mom Get Her And Ruining Everyone's Plans".

*sigh* Ah well. Live and learn. I promise you all, nothing like this will EVER happen again XD

~Kendra

Busy!

This has been a busy week! Monday-Wednesday, I helped with 6-8-year-old day camps at practicums. Practicums are basically three day day conferences for people who do my kind of homeschooling. The moms (or dads) can drop their kids off at the appropriate camp while they go get training and listen to speakers. Handling 50 little kids is exhausting and challenging, but I LOVE it. Kids are one of my favorite things in the world.

Yesterday, I slept in. I hadn't been able to sleep past 6 o'clock in six days! I sure made up for it yesterday. I slept about 12 hours and got woken up at 11:40 (thanks, Daddy XD). The rest of the day was pretty chill, and I went to Cavender and Matt's band concert that night. I'm really not a person to give compliments and I'm not easily impressed, but I will tell you something:

Cavender is a beast on the trumpet. Just saying.

Today, I woke up from an extremely awesome dream, but unfortunately have a cold :( Not enough sleep and not enough vitamin C, I guess. I'm taking Zicam and drinking lots of water because guess what happens tomorrow?

My first "King and I" practice! 5 hours of nonstop Siamese dancing! That will really be something! Never in my whole life have I danced alone, so this will be a very new and challenging experience. I hope I don't mess up! The play is in just over a month. Think I can master a 16-minute foreign ballet in that time? Honestly...

I think so :)

Here's to staying positive and having a great summer! Hope you all are doing great. Carpe diem!

~Kendra

Monday, Monday, Monday, Monday...

This week feels like one Monday after another.

I'm dealing with some personal junk right now, too, so if y'all could just pray for God to help me out, that would be appreciated.

I feel like I'm asking for prayer all the time. I'm sorry! I know there are a lot of more serious things out there for you to be praying for.

At least I've been writing. A little.

I have play practice tonight. I should be glad, but I'm definitely not.

I don't have much to say, and nothing particularly encouraging. I'm sorry :(

Retarded Post

The Sweet 16 party was fun :D It was a little awkward getting warmed up to the other girls, but I still had fun :D

I ate strawberry muffins at Emily's house for breakfast.

And I came home.

And I talked to Shang on Facebook.

And I didn't feel like eating lunch.

And I talked to Shang on FB again, lol.

And I did math. I could have done logic, but I didn't.

And I cleaned a lot. BLECK.

And...here I am. I'm going to babysit in an hour. Fun. It's not like I don't want to go, I just don't want to either. Kind of a *shrug* feeling, you know?

I didn't go to the tournament game last night. Or the one today. Ben (The Dare Devil) is going to hate me. Josh (The Nice Guy) will probably be disappointed. I feel like a failure. Crap.

At least Emily liked the card and present I gave her. I actually made a decent-looking card this time. Usually they look like crap.

*sigh* Maybe I'm tired. I got plenty of sleep though. Like seven hours. Which is plenty. Whatever.

I learned some stuff about some people last night that is good news and bad news. So I'm thinking a lot about that. And that's as specific as I want to get. Sorry.

Okay, this is a retarded post. I'll just stop now. Thanks for reading, play practice for the 31st show starts back Monday. Yay? This time when we do the show, it's the last time FOR REAL. Hmm.

I think I'm hungry. I'm going to eat something.

End of Chapter One?

No, I'm not done with my school work.

No, I'm not finished with my cleaning chores for the week.

No, I haven't straightened my room yet.

Yes, I am posting anyway.

BECAUSE IT'S OPENING NIGHT TONIGHT!!

I gotta post on opening night, right? :)

Unfortunately, this is probably the last you'll hear from me until late Saturday afternoon. I'm spending the night with a friend so I can go to the cast party, remember?

I'm very excited, and not as depressed that it's all ending as I would have thought. I still have three cast parties to go to, and it seems like the friendships I've made might be more long-lasting that I'd at first thought.

Am I finally learning to Carpe Diem?

Even though the performances are all only beginning, I feel like I'm starting a new chapter in my life. I have no idea why; I haven't done anything different or said anything final to anyone. It's the strangest feeling. I feel like I've grown up all at once and I'm looking ahead to a blank future just waiting for me to fill it up.

Well, wish me luck! Here comes the first moment of the rest of my life...

(No, THIS is...)
(No, THIS is...)
(Haha, sorry, couldn't resist ruining that solemn moment ;P)


P.S. Thanks for following, Aaron!!

Your Daily Dose of Tpyos ;)

So yeah i'm so tiredddd and it's only like three forty five! Like, seriously, really exhausted. we did two shows for little kids today, and they went really well, yay! The make-up guy did Shang's hair differently today because he said it looked too young. I like his hair fine, but whatever. THe make-up guy slicked it all back, and Shang was so self-conscious, lol! He looked fine though.

So all the other kids got excused from school today as a field trip, but no such luck for me :( So now I've got a day of school t odo. But it's not gonna be taht bad because I knew it would be so I planned other days harder than today. I don't have that much to do today.

I'm so tired y'all. Like, wow. and it's so early in the day,too!! Ugh, so many typos...okay, i'm gonnna talk to ya later! Er, bye...wow...maybe I'll post soem pictures later!

CRISIS AVERTED!

W00T!! Thanks, Logan and No Name for following!! Y'all rock :)
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Could it be? ("The Huns are...gone??") I have a moment of...f...f...free time?????

WHOA!!

But, really, just a moment. I gotta get dressed for the third and F...F...FINAL dress rehearsal tonight!!!!!!!!!! :O :O :O :O :O And help Lizzy fix dinner at 4:30 so we can eat at 5:00 so we can leave a 5:25. (We really only have to leave at 5:30, but...never mind, I'll get to that in a second.)

So, tech week has been going well. I think. Long nights, but the show is looking great, just like Shang said it would :) Everyone is still so nice and awesome, and the fact that this is all gonna end in four days is just too much for my overly-attached brain to handle!

I'm getting better at singing. Notes that I couldn't hit at the beginning of the show are just coming out of my mouth. Who knew my parents would be right??? ;)

My parents left after lunch for a conference called Catalyst. Basically, it's the most awesome, exciting and innovative thinking conference in the country. Or at least that's how it's been described to me :)

I'm thrilled that my parents get to go, but that does create an issue:

They won't be here during the busiest time in the play.

My grandma is staying with Lizzy and I until our parents get back late Friday night. That means Gr'anne will have to take me to all the practices and stuff, even though she's not crazy about driving around late at night.

Which brought up a monumental, horrible, sob-able crisis: "I'm sorry, Kendra, but it doesn't look like you'll be able to go to the cast party after the show Friday night."

Me: *blink* ... *blinkblink* ... *blinkblinkblink* ... *tears*

Mom: "We already talked about this! Don't you remember?"

Me: *head shake*

Mom: "It's not fair for us to ask Gr'anne to drive you around at 11 o'clock at night!"

Me: *nod*

So that was good for a lot of tears. It was one of those things where you know crying isn't going to help, and you don't want to make your mom feel bad, but the tears come anyway.

I went to eat breakfast, still mourning the loss of one of the last chances to see the cast members. Then I heard my mom calling to me if I knew the phone number for this girl who's also in the play. Feeling a glimmer of hope, I ran downstairs, calling over my shoulder that I was going to look.

I couldn't find the number, but as I ran back upstairs, it turned out not to matter because my mom had found it herself! She was on the phone with Mom-of-Fellow-Cast-Mate asking if I could spend the night with her Friday night after the cast party!

*holds breath*

...

YES!!!

Hooray! A cast party is not lost! :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

My mom is amazing :) <3

Um...what else to say...

School is...a lot. We're reading "Pride and Prejudice" this week, which I am really looking forward to! I haven't started it yet, but I think I'll like it.

A week from today my class leaves at 9am for the Washington DC trip! :O :O Wow, it snuck up on me! Since that week will be really busy, I basically am trying to do two weeks worth of work this week, which really sucks because I am so tired and busy with "Mulan"! And tomorrow is the "school performance" for the little third-graders, so I'll be gone from 8-3 -.- How am I supposed to get 10 days worth of work in 4 days?????????????

Writing is absolutely non-existent. I've barely even been blogging.

Dreams: I dreamed about avalanches all Sunday night. I don't feel like explaining that, but it has to do with Mulan.

Last night, I dreamed a lot. I dreamed that I was going through the "Mulan" script, and I found a whole paragraph of my lines that I had never seen before. I was so freaked out that I would have to memorize them before the show tomorrow, lol!

I also dreamed about Ellie B. and Shang.

That's all I can think of to say. Sorry I've been such a bad blogger lately! Thanks, everyone, for all your encouraging comments! :)

"Eyes of my ancestors, shine bright for me!"
"How can this girl bring glory to our name?"
"Let me rise from the ashes of my destiny!"
"May she rise like a pheonix from the flame!"

Hello. The brain you are trying to reach is unavailable at this time. Please try again later.

*folds hands and looks calmly at you*

I am tired as crap.

Now that we have that out of the way, I'll get on with a post before I have to eat dinner in--TWENTY MINUTES?? DANG IT! I HAVE TO GET DRESSED AND GET MY NEW SHOES TOGETHER AND FIND THOSE STUPID BLACK PANTS AND FINISH THIS PAPER!!

*palmforehead*

Never mind. Bye.

Tech Week Begins

Basically, this is just to say I posted.

I am very tired.

So begins the infamous tech week.

Best Night of My Li-ife!

So basically, tonight was the best night of my life. After a LONGG play practice, a bunch of us went to this coffee shop and hung out and watched Mulan. Everyone was so nice to me. I love these people. And you know how I feel about using "love" lightly. I am really going to miss these guys.

Carpe diem. Best day/night of my li-ife!

Political Satire

"Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels” is a beautifully constructed political satire. Swift subtly mocks the ways of society and the politicians of his day. The story at first appears to be a charming tale of a man’s adventures, but when one reads more closely, the delightful mockery of pompous political leaders emerges. The main character of the story, Gulliver, enjoys traveling, and visits the strangest places. On his first voyage, Gulliver lands on the island of Lilliput, which is inhabited by persons of only six inches in height. These little people, despite their diminutive stature, believe that they are the most intelligent and wonderful race to ever walk the earth. Their unusual and unnecessary laws make for interesting situations for Gulliver. On his second journey, Gulliver finds himself on and adventure quite the opposite of his first. His ship runs into a storm, and Gulliver ends up in Brobdingnag, a peninsula populated by giants. Quite unlike the Lilliputians, the giants are a reasonable and good people, skilled in seeing the big picture. After Gulliver leaves Brobdingnag, he voyages to Laputa, where the most unusual people dwell. The Laputans are eccentric and science-obsessed, worrying constantly that the sun will go out and performing disturbing “projects” to aid society. On his last escapade, Gulliver visits the Country of the Houyhnhnms and Yahoos. The Houyhnhnms are rational horses, while the Yahoos are barbaric and disgusting humanoids. Through these four voyages, Jonathan Swift touches on many laughable aspects of his times from hoop-jumping politicians, to close-minded leaders, to the sometimes foolish innovative approaches, to the corrupt nature of humanity."

And there is my introductory paragraph for my paper on "Gulliver's Travels"! I'm actually enjoying the book, but I wish we had a little longer to read it. Cliffs Notes are a gift from God, I'm telling you! :)

Schedule for Mulan from now until the last performance:

Friday: 7pm-10pm

Saturday: 2pm-7pm, cast get-together 7pm-until

Sunday: 1:30pm-9:30pm

Monday: 6pm-10pm

Tuesday: 6pm-10pm

Wednesday: 6pm-10pm

Thursday: 8am (school performance :O)-3pm (we have other shows in between)

Friday: OPENING NIGHT!! 6pm-(perform at 7:30pm)-9:30pm, go to Mexican for dinner

Saturday: 1pm-(perform at 2:30pm)-4:30pm, 6pm-(perform at 7:20pm)-9:30pm, go to pizza buffet for dinner

Sunday: 1pm-(perform at 2:30pm)-4:30pm, cast cook-out later

I would totally be looking forward to all this, except for one tiny detail:

AFTER THIS IT'S OVER!!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! *SOB SOB SOB SOB SOB SOB SOBBBB*

And that's all I have to say for now. Farewell.

It's possible that I will post later tonight, but only if something REALLY EXCITING happens :D

Parts I and II

Well, I'm going to type some stuff now, and then finish this post later tonight after play practice so I can include what happens then, too. That way, I don't post twice and clog up y'all's dashboards, but I have time to post everything I want to say :) Because I am NOT going to type out a whole run-down of my day at 10pm tonight when I can barely keep my eyes open.

Wait...I can barely keep my eyes open now...

I am runnin' on adrenaline, people!

I'm pretty sure the schedule is about to become a thing of the past. I'm just too busy to crank out good advice, character sketches, awards, etc. on a daily basis right now :(

I still love "Mulan" SO MUCH and I'm definitley gonna cry when it's over in a little more than a week, lol :'( The school performance is a week from tomorrow, and the last show is a week from Sunday. This has been the most amazing and fun experience, and I treasure everyone I met. I'm going to miss them so much...

"I'll Make A Man Out Of You" is getting better and better. Shang still hit a couple of flat (I think XD) notes, but I'm confident that he'll fix that before showtime.

I have written absolutely, flat-out NOTHING that wasn't school-related for about two weeks. That's pretty bad, I know, but I'm so caught up in other stuff that I barely have time to miss it. I know once the play ends (*SOB!!*) I'll have more time, but I really don't want it to end. Really. I'm really tired all the time and I'm working on school until 11:30pm some nights, but it's all worth it! I love this play!

I'm trying to make this a balanced post with stuff about every aspect of my life, but somehow everything comes back to "Mulan".

The stuff that the cast is doing together is gonna be awesome. This Saturday, some people are going to a little coffee shop owned by one of the mom's of someone in the play. We're gonna eat stuff and maybe watch "Mulan" on the big TV :D :D :D I want to go SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO badly, but my mom says she'll have to see how I feel and how school is going for me. She thinks I'm wearing myself to a pulp, which maybe I am, but that's okay with me! *sigh* I can still see her point though. I'm going to work really hard in school and eat lots of healthy stuff so I "feel good" this Saturday :D :D :D

Oh, remember how last Saturday's practice was from 10-5? This one is from 2-7, so it isn't as long. Yeah. I don't know why I'm telling you this.

On opening night, we're all going to go to a Mexican restaurant together!! And then the day after opening night, we're going to a little pizza place. And then on the day of the last performance, we're gonna go to someone's house for hot dogs and chips and stuff!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!

I love these people and I want to spend as much time as possible with them before TIME'S UP! Because even if they all do plays in the future, this exact awesome cast will NEVER BE EXACTLY THE SAME TOGETHER EVER AGAIN!!!!!! I must CARPE DIEM and enjoy everything to absolute highest degree NOW NOW NOW!

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

O.O

Wow. I'm not wound tight right now or anything...

Okay, end Post Part I.

PART II:

It is after play practice. Hmm. Shang and Mulan still have a ways to go before they have all their lines down at the end :- Yikes. We go on in 8 days. The director was not exactly pleased with our progress.

Other things happened, but I think I will document them in my journal and not on the blog :P

Thanks for reading!

Forget the Four Ls, Breathing is Enough to Do

School: Educational. I guess.
Writing: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, oh, wait. Were you serious?
Play ("Mulan"): Completely amazing, and I got a "Go get 'em" from someone, but it's totally dominating my entire life right now. One of my friends there told me a secret. Everywhere I go, like two weeks later, someone confides in me about something. My whole aura must scream TRUTHWORTHY AND WILL GIVE ADVICE!!!!!!
Family: I'm getting along with them...something weird is going on...*gasp* Am I GROWING UP?? :O

Physical: So physically exhausted that I'm getting sick -.- *grumbles irritably*
Emotional: ...that is not for public blog-ness.
Mental: Crazy as usual, but in the controlled, tired as crap way.
Spiritual: Working on my God relationship. Goin' pretty well!! Life is good!

Story of my life right now: By Your Side

Hi.

So, wow.

Busy, busy, busy.

I didn't post yesterday because I honestly had NO TIME. Play practice went from 10am-5pm, and then I babysat the rest of the evening/night. Having a long play practice was awesome, though. Usually, about the time I get "warmed up" to people, it's time to leave. With the 7 hour practice, I got warmed up to people, and just STAYED warmed up for a LONG time after that, lol! It was great.

Play practice today was cool, too. People are still being really nice to me, even more so after yesterday. I love these people :)

School. Hard. Too much of it. *UGH* Still having...well, I don't know if "fun" is the right word, lol, but working hard is turning out to be more fun than slacking, so cool.

I am really tired, y'all. I'm probably going to go to bed within the half hour.

*eyes droop*

This is almost practicum tired, except I can sleep in my own bed.

I have some really interesting stuff to say about being in control, but that will have to wait until I can form a comprehensive thought. Hopefully tomorrow. No promises, though, lol ;)

Carpe diem, tired or not.

Long Life Lessons

FOLLOWERS SAY ON CARPE NOCTEM HAS OFFICIALLY STARTED!! :O :O
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Well, today is Question Day, but I won't be able to do it for lack of a question, lol!
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So, justagirl4god awarded me in the Honesty Scrap thing! Instructions:

1) Say thanks and give a link to the presenter of the award.
2) Share "ten honest things" about myself.
3) Present this award to 7 others whose blogs I find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged me.
4) Tell those 7 people that they've been awarded HONEST SCRAP and inform them of these guidelines in receiving.

Thanks, Rachael!!

Okay, 10 honest things...

1. I don’t (usually) like to eat.
2. I like the moon better than the sun.
3. I have a strange fascination with thieves, assassins, etc.
4. Although my blog is named ~Carpe Diem~, I totally suck at carpe-ing my diem.
5. My goals for my life include becoming a writer, lawyer, kindergarten teacher, and mom.
6. The author I admire most (aside from the obvious like Tolkien and stuff) is Hilari Bell.
7. My hair is naturally this weird mix of corkscrew curls and waves (maybe it sounds pretty, but it’s not, lol).
8. My eyes change color.
9. I sometimes bruise/get scratches/have pulled muscles from dreams.
10. My #1 wish of ALLLLLLLLL time is to have an older brother.

Ta-da! :D I now tag/award...
Jaynine
Seth
Steven
Cassie
Mr. Puddle
Meggie
Gabrielle
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Okay, so today has been weirdly awesome.

First of all, let me start out by telling you how a typical school day goes for me.

9:30am: Get woken up by mom.
9:45am: Actually get up.
9:40am: Go upstairs and eat breakfast (and read Dear Annie in the paper, catch my favorite comics in the funnies section, read a chapter or two of whatever book I'm reading..."
10:10am: Come down stairs and "start school"
10:11am: Check all my many emails, check my blogs, check Facebook, stalk some people on Facebook (maaaaaybe...)
10:30am: Repeat.
10:40am: Actually start school. Fiddle around with some research for Western Culture, glance at biology, check off twice as much stuff on my list as I actually did.
11:05am: Repeat what I did at 10:11.
11:30am: Do a math lesson.
11:55am: Well, I've been hard at work all morning, so I guess I can just read or goof around until lunch.
12:30pm: Lunch.
1:05pm: Write a paper...or at least a couple of paragraphs...okay, four sentences maybe...
1:10pm: Check Facebook.
1:30pm: Finish paper...or at least a couple of paragraphs...
2:00pm: Check Facebook, emails, blogs...
2:20pm: Do some logic.
2:40pm: Glance over some reading for Art History...
2:50pm: Get side tracked by this old story I found in my room...
3:10pm: Oh, wow! A whole day gone! Guess I'll call it a day.

-.-

Long schedule short: My work ethic sucks. Absolutely SUCKS. I know that, and the people that I admire the most do not have sucky work ethics. I would like the people I admire to think well of me, too.

So.

Today, I decided to exercise the self-dicipline I KNOW I have (...don't I?) and work HARD. Actually HARD.

I was at school by 9:30. I attacked biology with ferver. I got a lot more done than usual, and OMG I UNDERSTOOD IT??????? I did!

Then, I got to work on the bibliography that I'm supposed to have been keeping for six weeks but haven't. It is no easy task tracing down every website you used to find research on the Renaissance, Albrecht Durer, Jan van Eyck, Michelangelo, El Greco, Leonardo da Vinci, the "Pieta", "The Resurrection", and "Arnolfini's Wedding".

But I did it.

Then, I got to work on the vocabulary list I'm supposed to have been keeping for six weeks but haven't. That was a bit easier.

THEN, I FINALLY started working on my Art Grant Project. (Basically, we have to put together a presentation to apply for a "grant" for an art project. We give a presentation to the class, and then the class votes on whether or not we get the grant.)

Step One: Decide on a project.

Yeah. My work strategy basically sucks.

So, anyway, I got up to date on the Grant Project.

Next, a math lesson.

Next, attack a chapter in logic.

By this time it's 3:30pm, and I've only checked Facebook once. I've also had the most enjoyable (NO sarcasm!) and productive day I've had in a long time.

Then, I attack the Art History paper on Leonardo da Vinci some more.

By this time it's 4:15pm. Busy day, crazy, day, but a really fun day! :O :O :O Weird, huh?

So, my dad comes in and tells me that if we want to grab a bite to eat somewhere before the special play practice at 6pm, we should go. (It takes us 45 minutes to get to the play practice town). The special practice was for me and the other people who are working with the Hun puppets.

So, we go eat at Pizza Hut, just me and my dad, which was awesome. I get along with him so well. We always have such a fun, easy time. We're a lot alike.

Play practice went well. Working with a big, heavy-ish puppet is a challenge, and my arm is a tad sore (lol), but I think I'm getting it, and I had a lot of fun. I'm really getting to know people better, and I'm getting to be more of myself around them.

We came home, and watched two episodes of this spy-mystery-action-freaky-action-spy-mystery TV series we got on DVD called Alias. It's so awesome, but this last episode had some stuff set in a creepy, bad-conditions mental institute...do I even have to say that I am a little creeped out?

So, after an awesome day in all ways possible...

I still have to read a ton of "Gulliver's Travels", do some Latin, and read some Art History stuff.

*SIGH*

SLACKING DOESN'T PAY, PEOPLE! And actually doing the work can be more enjoyable than doing nothing all day...

I am a bit worried about getting those three last things, done, though...Tomorrow's schedule:

8:00am: GET UP.
8:30am: Eat something (c'mon, just oneeeee bite...)
9:00am: Get self looking...decent.
9:30am: Leave for play practice.
10:00am: Play practice.
1:00pm: Lunch break.
2:30pm: Resume play practice.
5:00pm: Get out of play practice.
5:30pm: Babysitting
11:00pm (hopefully): Come home, sleep.

...

And WHERE am I supposed to fit in reading "Gulliver's Travels", doing some Latin exercises, and reading loooooong chapters in the Art History books?

Ohh, right, I should have been doing that instead of posting...

XD Ah, well. Some things never change.

Carpe diem, everyone! And sorry for this epic-long post...

Character Day and Feeling Much Better

Character Day! I'm going to do one of my own today: fourteen-year-old Kaelie Kayla Morgan (KY-lee KAY-lah MOR-gun).

Kaelie is bubbly, fun-loving and impatient, but also clever and maintains a touch of solemnity when necessary. She's a complex person. She can be giggly and easily distracted one moment, and then come up with a perfect solution to a mind-boggling problem the next. Her favorite things include good jokes, the color periwinkle (she likes the name as well as the color), and friends. She despises stupid people, her brother being right when she's wrong, and long waits.

Appearance-wise, Kaelie's looks match her personality. Her auburn hair and extraordinarily bright green eyes give her a clever and excited look. Originally, her hair was supposed to be kind of scrunched-style and shoulder length. Now I'm starting to like the picture of hair I have below. Kind of a Star Trek-esque ponty-tail thing going on, which fits since Kaelie's story is set in the future. What do you think? Anywyay, she's 5'6" tall and weighs about 124lb.

The color and texture (and maybe length?) of Kaelie's hair:

Kaelie's eyes:

Over-all (she's a bit younger than the girl in this picture):

And there's Kaelie Morgan!

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So, as you might have gathered from the title of this post, I'm feeling a lot better. I guess I was just having a bad few days. I'm still not who I want to be, but that's okay, but God is working on my every day. I'm not *supposed* to be perfect!

Thanks, all of you guys who left such encouraging comments. You can't possibly know how much they help me when I'm feeling down.

I don't want to talk about school. At all. Next topic.

I'm supposed to be reading "Gulliver's Travels" this week for school. So far, it's pretty good. It's not super exciting, but it's not particularly hard to read either. We're supposed to be keeping a record as we read of all the satire in it. I'm really looking forward to that. Satire/sarcastism is definitely a subject I love XD

No writing to speak of. I've been thinking some about my stories, but nothing has struck me as writing material--yet. I'm still waiting.

I haven't written any "Mirror" in a very long time. Like, MONTHS long time. Am I worried?

Nope.

This happened to me in the beginning of "Mirror", too. I wrote about thirty pages, and then it was a good nine or ten months before I read over it and got excited about it again. I'm just taking a break. Sooner or later, I'll start to miss my characters and I'll get a brainstorm or something and BAM! The words will flow.

Play practice tonight :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D I've been a little depressed, though, thinking about the fact that it has to end.

I'm telling you, I SUCK at carpe-ing my diem. I live in the past (I wish I could go back and time and relieve such-and-such) and in the future (it's gonna suck when so-and-so leaves or when such-and-such is over). I've been trying SO HARD to enjoy "Mulan" while it lasts that I've been ruining it for myself.

*MOANGROANSIGHWAILSOB*

I know this is a weird prayer request, and frankly pretty selfish, but if y'all think of me during the day, do you think you could send out a prayer that I will learn to enjoy life RIGHT NOW?

I guess that's about all I've got to say.

Oh, hah, no, it isn't. I lied XD

Fact or Fiction Day was yesterday. The fact/fiction: Eating 2 poppy seed bagels can make you test positive for drugs.

FACT.

Cavender, Bethany, and Gracie all got it right, but Cavender got it right first. Here's your award, Cavender:

I think I'm going to stop giving out awards for this. Awards are supposed to be special, and giving them out twice a week is just making it kind of mundane. And it's kind of a pain to keep cranking out awards, lol XD

Thanks for being there, you guys!

Just Real(ly) Quick(ly)...

Not much time to post. Quick over-view just so I can say I posted ;D

Mulan:
- Had practice tonight, went well. Finished blocking the play. It's basically awesome XD

School:
- Am starting to genuinely resent it.

Writing:
- Haven't really had time today :(

Other:
- Um...none!

Bye, y'all! I might post a Memory tomorrow. *shrug*

Confessions of a Chocoholic

That's not exactly what this post is about, but close enough. And it sounds cool XD
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Advice Day:

Source: Me
Advice: "Chocolate is dangerous. Consume in moderation."
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Play practice tonight :) Yayy! I still love it.

So, I wrote my short allegory for school today. I would like to put more finishing touches on it and polish it a little more, but I only had today to do it. Might go back and work on it some more. I don't really like it, but I don't completely hate it. It's just kind of blah. I'll post it at the end of this if you want to read it, but don't feel like you have to.

Today begins the first bianual Strange Confessions Week. Because...I feel like it. *blink*

Strange Confession #1: I get hurt in my dreams.

I know what you're thinking. Wow, big deal. I've gotten shoved off a skyscraper in my dreams before, too. Not exactly a confession, and not strange either. That's all true.

But you don't actually BRUISE from falling off that dream skyscraper.

I do.

I wake up with actually bruises from stuff that happened in dreams, and scratches and sore muscles, too.

The scratches thing seems easy to explain, doesn't it? I scratched myself in the middle of the night, and then I dreamed about it. Or, I dreamed about it and then scratched myself. Either way. Unfortunately, that theory flops.

Because, flexible as I am, even I can't make several long scratches stretching from my left shoulder to my right hip, and right shoulder to left hip, and neck to back, etc. etc..

Yes, that has happened to me before. How? Why? *shrug* Who knows? Not me.

End of Strange Confession #1.

*sigh* I feel like my posts are getting weird, strange, stupid, and in other ways not...not...not something. Something about my posts is different, and I can't put my finger on it. They're almost...darker or something. Do you think so, too?

*shakes head* I don't know. I think I'm going to stop typing now. I need to figure myself out. I'm sorry for being so weird. I promise I'm going to try to get back to however it was I used to be :-/


Allegory:

“Do you realize what today is?” Rennite asked Felon as they walked home from middle school. Felon frowned, glancing at her best friend with a quizzical look.
“No,” she said, tossing her dark hair out of her eyes. “What is it?” Rennite grinned.
“It’s our two month anniversary of being best friends!” she cried. Felon smiled back.
“Oh, yeah,” she agreed. “I guess we did meet two months ago at…um, where was it?” Rennite frowned.
“Elizabeth’s birthday party,” she reminded. Felon nodded.
“Oh, yeah, that was it,” she said. “Do you want to come over to my house and celebrate?” Rennite nodded, her straight, red hair catching the sunlight.
“Absolutely,” she agreed. “A little friendship party, for just you and me!” Felon smiled as the two turned into her driveway. Rennite frowned as she spotted someone sitting on Felon’s porch.
“Who’s that?” she asked, pointing. Felon squinted.
“I don’t know,” she said. “Oh, wait, is that the girl that moved in next door to the Rileys’?” Rennite shrugged, looking a bit uneasy.
“I don’t know. Do you think we should invite her inside with us?”
Felon shrugged, too. “Let’s just see what she wants.” That seemed fair enough, so the two best friends approached the lone little girl with smiles.
“Hi!” Rennite greeted, trying to be welcoming. “What’s your name?” The girl smiled, revealing perfect white teeth. Her curly, blonde hair bounced as she got to her feet.
“Temporania,” she answered. “I just moved here.” She turned to Felon. “Our moms were talking yesterday and they think we should get to know each other, since we’re both in sixth grade and everything.”
“Oh, sure,” Felon said. She tucked a loose strand of black hair behind her ear. “Um, wanna come inside? Rennite and I were just gonna have a snack.” Temporania smile brightly.
“Sounds great!”
Rennite nibbled her lip. Oh well. They could celebrate the friendship thing later…
“I love your house!” Temporania cried, looking around. Felon smiled faintly.
“Thanks. My mom likes to decorate stuff.” Rennite nodded.
“Yeah, her mom has a great eye for colors,” she said, heading for the kitchen. The other two followed. Temporania sat down at the dining room table, Felon got out the cookies. Rennite poured everyone glasses of milk. An awkward silence hovered over the three.
“So, what school are you going to go to?” Rennite asked Temporania. Temporania swallowed the last of her third cookie and answered,
“Just the public school. Right up the road. Is that where you two go?”
“Yes,” Rennite and Felon said in unison. Temporania beamed.
“Great! It’ll be nice to know some people already.” Rennite frowned and looked away. She didn’t want to snub this girl or anything, but the way she was horning in on Felon’s and her afternoon…
“Oh, hello, girls,” Felon’s mom walked in, smiling. “Felon, Rennite, I see you’ve met Temporania. She just moved in down the street. I was hoping you’d all get together.” Temporania, of course, smiled. Felon raised an eyebrow. Rennite looked away. Sensing the awkwardness, Felon’s mother suggested the girls play a game.
After a few minutes of polite, “Oh, I don’t care, whatever you want”, the game Sorry! was selected. They played three games, two of which Temporania one, and Felon one the last one.
“I guess I better head home to start homework,” Rennite said around four-thirty.
“I should probably go, too,” Temporania said, to Rennite’s relief. Felon smiled to both of them.
“Alright. I’ll see you in school tomorrow!” she called as the two other girls exited.
After dinner of , Rennite called Felon.
“Too bad we didn’t get a chance to celebrate our friendship monthaversary!” Rennite said, half joking, half serious. She could almost see Felon shrugging on the other side of the phone.
“Yeah, that was too bad. Temporania seems nice, though.” Rennite frowned.
“I guess so. I’m just a little miffed that she horned in our day. I guess she is nice, though.”
“Sure,” Felon agreed. “My mom says we’ll all be good friends. She invited Temporania and her family for dinner tomorrow night.”
“That’s cool,” Rennite said, starting to feel better. She and Felon were best friends. How could one girl change that?

The next day at school, Temporania continued being the bright, open girl she’d been the day before. Most everyone loved her, students and teachers alike. Rennite shrugged off her feelings of resentment and began to like her, too.
The feelings came back that night, though, when Felon called to talk about what a great evening her family had had with Temporania’s. Rennite tried to feel happy that Felon had a good time, but the way Felon talked about Temporania made her jealous.
Shrugging off the feelings once again, Rennite finished the conversation and went to bed.

“Finally, lunch,” Rennite said to Temporania and Felon as they made their way to the cafeteria the next day. “I’m starving!”
“Definitely,” Temporania agreed. “I could eat just about anything right now.” She looked at Felon, her eyes gleaming. “As long as it’s not plastic!” Felon burst out laughing and Temporania joined in. Rennite blinked and laughed hesitantly. It wasn’t that funny…
“Sorry,” Temporania gasped as soon as she could speak. “Inside joke.” The words hit Rennite like a punch in the stomach. An inside joke? Rennite bit her tongue to keep from telling Temporania to keep her inside jokes inside.
The three girls settled at their usual table and began unpacking their lunches.
“Look what I brought,” Felon whispered to Temporania. She whipped out two brownies—only two.
“Oh my gosh,” Temporania said. She groaned with a smile, as if she’d just heard a bad joke. “I’m guessing they’re not—”
“No, they’re fine,” Felon interrupted, grinning. Temporania took the brownie and tucked it into her lunchbox, ignoring Rennite. Feeling like she needed to prove her closeness with Felon, Rennite repeated one of their own inside jokes. Felon stared at Rennite for a moment.
“Ohhhh,” she realized. “I remember that.” She turned to Temporania and began explaining the inside joke in great detail. Rennite ate her lunch in silence, listening to Felon and Temporania finish each others’ sentences about the evening before.

After she finished her chores that day, Rennite decided to see if Felon wanted to come over and hang out. She picked up the phone and dialed the number she knew by heart.
“Hello?” came Felon’s voice.
“Felon? Hi! It’s Rennite!”
“Oh. Hi.” Was it just Rennite, or did Felon sound…disappointed? “What’s up? I can’t talk long. Temp—er, I have something I have to go do.”
“Oh.” Rennite swallowed hard. “Well, I just wanted to see if you wanted to come over, but I guess you can’t. What about tomorrow afternoon?”
“Maybe,” Felon didn’t sound too sure. Rennite heard the doorbell ring on Felon’s end of the line. “Oh! Gotta go! Talk to you later!”
Click.
Rennite lowered the phone, tearing up. She angrily slapped the tears away and set to work on her homework. If Felon would rather hang out with Temporania than her, fine. If Felon wanted to throw away two months of friendship, fine. If Felon would rather explain inside jokes to Temporania than to Rennite, fine.
But Rennite didn’t have to sit alone all day and listen to it.
Later that night, Rennite called one of her other friends and made a sleepover date for that Friday.

Over the next week, Temporania told Rennite at least fifty million stories about herself and Felon over lunch. Felon always eagerly jumped in to help tell the stories. Rennite tried very hard not to talk over Temporania with her own “me and Felon” stories, but it grew increasingly difficult.
After a couple of weeks of this, Felon stopped phoning Rennite entirely. She created a new email address and kept “forgetting” to give it to Rennite. Instead of Temporania being the one to initiate the inside jokes and stories, Felon began to start them, too. When Felon’s parents went out of town, she stayed with Temporania, not Rennite. Felon and Temporania made up a secret code, and used it around Rennite. At birthday parties and church, Felon out-and-out ignored Rennite when she tried to speak to her.
Pretty soon, Rennite decided that Felon no longer wanted to be her friend at all. She started getting close to another girl, Fidelia. Rennite and Fidelia became close friends as Felon and Temporania did. Soon, the two pairs had almost nothing to do with each other.
Somewhere around Christmas, Rennite spotted Temporania and Felon with a new girl. They all seemed to be getting along fine. Of course, by this time, Rennite honestly did not care, and went about her own business with Fidelia. She didn’t think another thing of it until Felon randomly called one day.
“Hi, Rennite!” she said brightly over the phone. Rennite was silent for a moment.
“Hello, Felon,” she said somewhat coldly. “Can I help you?” There was a slight pause.
“Well, no…I mean, I was just calling to talk. What’s up?” Felon said.
“You mean lately, or for the past four months?” Rennite continued in the icy voice.
“Er, both…” Felon said. “Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to come over later?”
“Why?” Rennite asked, almost genuinely curious. “Is Temporania busy?”
“Yeah,” Felon replied before she realized what she was saying. “She and this other stupid girl are out going to the movies or something.”
“You don’t say?” Rennite answered sardonically. “You mean Temporania ditched you for someone else?”
“Yeah, can you believe it?” Felon fumed. “So, what about later? Wanna come over and hang out?”
“Not really,” Rennite said indifferently. “I’ve actually got plans with Fidelia. See you later!”
Click.
And so the unforgiving Rennite decided it wasn’t worth Felon’s disloyal company, and Felon learned the hurt of being friends with someone who’s only looking for temporary companionship.

Symbolism:
1. "Temporanea" is Italian for "temporary"
2. "Felon" is French for "disloyal"
3. Rennite is a name meaning "stubborn"
4. Felon’s hair is black and often shadowing her eyes. This stands for shadiness, disloyalty.
5. Rennite’s hair is straight and red. The straight standing for solid principles, not going to bend for anything. The red stands for being extreme, refusing to mend the friendship.
6. Temporania’s hair is curly, bouncing from one direction to another.
7. The girls play Sorry!, a restatement of what’s to come

A Lame Award and Two Good Newses (Lol XD)

I had a soccer game today. More on that later.
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Award Day!!

The I-Know-You-In-Real-Life Award! :D I know, pitifully unoriginal and disappointing. Sorry.


It goes to Cavender, Gracie, Gabrielle, Lizzy, Ellie B, Meggie, Mr. Chris, Tori, David Bailey, Anna Lee, Cassie Roads, Nicole, Lisabailey and Ember! It's great knowing you guys!
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So, I had a soccer game today. We played the team with all the really good Mexican kids on it. (I'm not being racist, I'm just saying they're all REALLY GOOD where I live.) It was coached by a college guy named Luis, who's pretty much a soccer legend in my town. I didn't think we would win.

Which is why it surprised me when we did.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D I actually did okay this game, too!! Ben (The Dare Devil) even told me I did well, and he never says that unless it's true. Especially at soccer. He doesn't talk to me that much at soccer. So yay!! :)

Lizzy's party was today, but because of the soccer game, I missed pretty much all of it :( Ah well. It's times when she gets all her friends together that I actually like being the oldest. I get a lot of reverent looks from the younger ones when I tell them I'm a sophmore XD

No play practice today, but I have it tomorrow.

OH!! I didn't tell you about Thursday night. Okay, so, Thursday night at play practice, we started at the beginning of the show, and just did it up until a certain point with singing, dancing, lines and everything. My part came. Man, my heart was pounding, but I sang it out. (I actually sing better when I sing loud.) I sounded fine! I was so relieved. The second time through wasn't as good. I got a little nervous for no reason, and I didn't sing very loud, so I couldn't hit some notes :-/

We took a five minute break, and Matt (who's playing Shang, the main guy character) came up to me and told me, "Girl, you can sing! You sound good! You just gotta sing loud."

That made me feel SO GOOD. I was definitely beaming for a while. I was so afraid that I just sounded really bad, but apparently I sound fine. What a relief! And it was nice of Matt to encourage the New Girl.

Sorry. That was random and you probably don't care XD

That's all! Thanks for reading! Bye!

Character Day: Taking Sibling Rivalry To a Whole 'Nother Level

FIRST: Thanks, Lady Brainsample, for following! I love your name.
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Character Day:

One of my own today--a character that resulted from my temporary obsession with Chinese culture.

Of course, to have a story set in actual China would be too simple. I have to create my own fantasy world based on China (see, that way if I get half my facts wrong, it's not wrong because it's MY world. See how it works? XD). I have no idea how exactly Chinese the culture will be. I've added some things, and will probably change some things, too. The one-child rule was ditched because of my obsession with big families.

Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever written a story about an only child...(Well, Darren is an only child).

Anyway. Back to my character. Her name is Gembira, and she's fifteen years old. She has twelve siblings, including a twin brother.

The culture she lives in is much like China in its system of honor and respect, but I added the rule that your older siblings are also to be honored and respected, and boys are generally valued over girls (not an original concept, especially for Chinese culture).

This creates a very interesting relationship between Gembira and her twin brother, Gan. Gembira is the older of the two, but Gan is a son. Who has more authority? They often have arguments over this, but at the same time share a close mental and emotional bond.

Gembira's personality is curious and unsatisfied with life, but she mostly sticks to tradition and obeys the rules of society. However, in her mind she is constantly questioning the status quo. She's the third daughter in her family, preceded by Darpana, the practical and harsh "oldest daughter", and the long-suffering but unimaginative Fara.

Gembira struggles between trying to be the perfect daughter and wanting to question the family's way of life. She feels that she has just as much to offer as her brothers, but she has trouble accepting those thoughts as legitimate because of her upbringing.

The story (if it goes anywhere) will begin with Gembira's oldest older brother getting married, followed by a terrible fight between her and Gan (her twin brother). The argument becomes so severe that it is brought to the attention of the parents. Father sides with Gan, being a son, and Mother follows his lead. It is decided that [insert something terrible that I haven't decided yet] is to happen to Gembira.

By this time, even Gan is horrified and wants to help his twin sister, but cannot go against his parents. He decides to help Gembira escape somehow.

The story from there is fairly generic in my mind so far: Gembira is thrust into the world where men rule and girls drool, and she probably gets the help of an "unlikely friend" (how cliche, I know), and discovers more about herself and the status quo and how it's unfair.

OR.

Gan might end up going along with her for some reason and that same stuff happens.

It probably won't be that generic, but I haven't thought through the plot very far yet XD

So, there's Gembira, a curious and unsatisfied victim of unfair upbringing struggling to find herself, no thanks to her power-hungry but close twin brother.

:D

For all the other family-and-character-obsessed people, here's a handy list of all the things you didn't need to know about Gembira's family. The list includes the names of her siblings, their ages, and their name meanings. I found some pictures from Google that sort of look like the character. You can click on their name to see the picture (I didn't have much luck at all with the brothers). Sorry Gembira is in a bathing suit. There's no reason for that except that her face looked kind of like I imagined her looking. *shrug*

Name - gender (hey, it's hard to know by the names sometimes!) - age - name meaning

1. Aran – brother - 25 – forest
2. Bien – brother - 23 – sea
3. Eun – brother - 21 – silver
4. Darpana – sister - 19 – mirror
5. Chet – brother - 18 – brother
6. Fara – sister - 16 – flower
7. Gembira – sister - 15 – happy one (Ironic, right?)
8. Gan- brother - 15 – dare; adventure
9. Hikari – sister - 14 – light; shining
10. Izanami – sister - 12 – welcomes others
11. Jun – brother - 11 – obedience
12. Kiet – brother - 9 – honor
13. Lek – brother - 7 – small person
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Gracie and Krevan both got the answer right to yesterday's Fact or Fiction.

China is considering renouncing its one-child law.

FALSE. That law is here to stay, at least for a while. They are, however, allowing families to have two children IF both the mother and father were only children. Interesting, isn't it?

Sorry, Krevan, you were just a little too late! Congratulations, Gracie, for being the first correct guess! Here's your award:

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Today's been fine. It's raining, so that means the church thing was canceled, so that means I can go to play practice!! Yay! As much as I was looking forward to hearing the church band play, I'm glad I get to got to play practice. I really do love it.

I've listened to NOTHING except Mulan (oh, well, I listened to the LotR soundtrack while I did math, as usual) for about 48 hours. I have never, ever, ever been so totally emersed in something in my whole entire life. (With the exception of being consumed by physical science during exam week last year.) I listen to Mulan, think Mulan, read Mulan, quote Mulan, dream Mulan. I've listened to the CD five times in two days (it's 57 tracks long, people), and had Mulan dreams several nights in a row. I've had nothing but Mulan songs running through my head absolutely-no-freakin'-lie-CONSTANTLY for three days now.

Miraculously, I still love it. Completely do. I don't see how it's possible, but I do. (Haha, I've still got three weeks to go, though.)

School is school. *shrug* Nothing really new there. "Pilgram's Progress" = FTL, but maybe a little less than before.

Still drowing in Latin, but not quite as badly.

Writing...well, Gembira's story has been getting on fairly well for me. (Fairly well meaning a page and a half and ton of back story and character sketches, lol!)

Thanks for reading, I love hearing from you!!

P.S. Also, don't forget tomorrow is Question Day! If you have a question, no matter how weird, awkward (within reason XD), random, generic, or silly, I'd love to hear it!