Happy Thanksgiving!

(EDIT: .......it didn't work.......so I'm posting it really quick now before I have to go.)

I don't know if I'll have time to post on Thanksgiving ("today"), so I'm gonna use the auto-post thing. So, technically, I'm writing this when it's not Thanksgiving, but you'll READ it on Thanksgiving... XD

But don't worry; sometime soon, I'll post about what happened today.

I hope you're having/had a great Thanksgiving!

Girls' "Word Names" I Made Up
451. Peace
452. Survivor
453. Rumor
454. River
455. Tally
456. Trust
457. Every
458. Legend
459. Soul
460. Story
461. Lyric
462. Atlantic
463. Props
464. Amaze
465. Ocean
466. Anime
467. Memory
468. Lake
469. Lymrick
470. Echo

Things I'm Thankful For
471. Words
472. Talents
473. Writing
474. Freedom
475. Books
476. Family
477. Friends
478. Friends that are more like family
479. Straighteners
480. Internet
481. Education
482. Dance
483. Laughter
484. Music
485. Teachers
486. Advice
486. Friends that can drive
487. Food
488. Licky (my doggie :D)
489. Eyeliner (I really am...)
490. Razors (See above.)
491. Heat
492. Philosophy class/Philosophers
493. Languages
494. The chance to go to Europe this summer
495. My blog
496. My camera
497. My iPod
498. Thinking/Opinions
499. Challenges

500. The God who made all 499 other things possible.

~Kendra

Book Tag! (Way Better Post Than That Last One XD)

Yeah, I'm posting twice in the same day. But I figure that's okay for the following reasons:

1. I haven't been posting much lately, so this will compensate a little.
2. I have some awesome news (3 actually) to share.
3. I forgot to thank some new followers :O
4. I got tagged by Silver Angel!

First things first, thanks for following, duck_sister, Marissa, Silver Angel, and Jennoula2009! Wow! :D (Sorry I couldn't find links for duck_sister and Jenn!)

Now, awesome newses XD

I FOUND MY MOOD RING!!!!!! :O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O:O I had totally given up, but it turned up in a notebook case! I do not remember putting it in there. Am I the luckiest person in the world, or what? ;) Another Fortuna Kendrae.

Awesome news #2: I GOT A CALL BACK FOR DANCE IN "THE KING AND I"!!!!! YAY! :O :D I think Cavender is coming with me, so he'll get to see me either sink or swim, lol XD Hopefully I'll swim. And gracefully XD

News #3: I'm on Facebook. There's a little gadget on the right...scroll down. Keep scrolling. Keep--yeah, there. Add me :D

Okay, now for the awesome tag from Silver Angel (whose blog I like. Check it out.):

Rules: 8 books you'd like to live in (mine aren't in order) and why, then tag 8 people! Easy ;)

Book 1: "Eragon". Sorry, but Alagaesia is awesome. And because it's necessary to continue the story. You know the green dragon appearing in the fourth book? Yeah, I'm the Rider. Oh yes.

Book 2: "Lord of the Rings". Surely this doesn't need a Why?? *sigh* If you must know, it's because I think Tolkien was one of the greatest fantasy geniuses on the earth. His world is so complete, it's hard to believe it doesn't really exist. Every race has its own back story, its own legends, its own customs and ways of life. It's just so rich with detail, and I'd love to meet the Hobbits :) Elves, too, but I do love the Hobbits.

Book 3: "The Chronicles of Narnia". Tolkien was a genius, but Narnia holds an irreplaceable spot in my heart. My friends and I once thought we had actually found Narnia in the backyard of my school. I'm not so sure we were wrong...Talking trees, knights in shining armor and wolves have to mean something, right??

Book 4: "The Mirror". Is it egotistical and/or cheating to want to visit my own book? I want to know that I got my characters right, and I'm sure there's a lot I'd have to see to describe accurately. And I wanna meet Luken rlybad.

Book 5: "Peter Pan". Never land is right up there with Narnia. No lie. And Peter Pan is freaking awesome.

Book 6: "The Farsala Trilogy". Really cool books. Kinda hard to explain, but awesome.

Book 7: "Sophie's World". That is such an epic book. It is truly something. Like philosophy, mystery, suspense, fantasy and education wrapped up in one. It is so cool. You have to read it some time in your life. Really, it's so eye-opening and AWESOME.

Book 8: "Uglies series". It's set in the future. Scott Westerfield has an incredible mind for technology. It would be so cool to use some of the gadgets first-hand. And the problems introduced in their world are very interesting.

Thanks for the tag, Silver Angel! That was fun!

I tag...
Bleah
duck_sister
Marissa
Tay in Real Life
Kailyn
Breanne
Katie G.
Avalon

~Kendra

P.S. I know it's too late to do the blog parade Bekah was having, but the questions are so fun. Would it be okay if I did them in a tag sometime?

My Daybook: Week 8

Thanks for following Samarah and Kailyn! Y'all made me smile :D

So, I know I just did a Daybook a few days ago, but it's Saturday, I want to post, I can't think of anything good, and I want to get back on track. So, here it is :D

Date: Tuesday, April 3, 2010
Starting time: 7:26pm
Mood: serious
Outside my window: light and the trees have green buds coming out :D
I'm thinking: I think too much XD
I'm reading: "The Hobbit"
I'm listening to: "Immortal" by Evanescence
I'm wearing: basketball shorts, a T-shirt, and a sweatshirt
Yesterday, I: went to the cold lake with Brianna and this other family
I'm excited for: Easter is tomorrow.
I'm sad because: not really sad.
I'm hungry for: nothing
The song stuck inside my head is: "Immortal", 'cause it's playing.
I want: omniscience
I love: warm weather, for one thing.
I loathe: hmmm....school.
This week, my goal is: get through school.
Ending time: 7:34pm

~Kendra

Beach

I can't believe I haven't mentioned it much before. But, guess what?

I'm going to the beach with some people for my Sweet 16 :D We're leaving today and coming back Saturday. I might have internet, but even if I do, I probably won't post XD I'll be busy having lots of fun. I'll let you know how it was when I get back, but for now, goodbye!

If you wouldn't mind saying a prayer for safety and for us not to be too swamped in schoolwork while we're there, that would be great, lol :) Thanks, y'all!

~Kendra

P.S. I may have Kyle update if something REALLY MONUMENTAL happens. Like if we crash into the ocean or something. That'd be pretty monumental. Or if I decide to move to the beach. Or if we discover cold fusion by accident. Something like that. Or maybe just if we're having a really epic time. We shall see.

kBai.

~Me again

Proud to Be An American

Thanks for following, Livia and Roxy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I know. It's not the Fourth of July. But do we really need a special day to celebrate our country? I hope not.

The first time I heard the song "God Bless The USA", I was little. Maybe seven? Eight? I don't know how old I was, but I remember hearing it one Fourth of July and getting chills. Every time I hear the song I get chills. Maybe it has something to do with the whole Cultural Honor thing, but I've always had this deep-seated passion for my country.

When I heard the song as a little girl, I remember feeling this fierce, burning love for where I live, where I come from, and how we got here. If I had to pick three things that I value above all else (excluding God), I would choose Freedom, Justice, and Truth--all things that America is built firmly on.

I respect and love my country so much. It's extremely difficult for me to put into words the feelings I have. America is all about Freedom and Justice. The Freedom to make your own choices, and the Justice to keep you from making stupid ones. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world.

We Americans fought hard for our freedom. We were patient, but eventually could not take the injustice anymore, and we set out to make our own land, the way we saw fit. People died so that we could be free.

Freedom is such a wonderful, beautiful, precious gift. The Freedom to say what you think, the Freedom to go where you want, the Freedom to talk to whomever you want, the Freedom to question your government, the Freedom to choose your government.

We get to VOTE. Do not take that for granted. One of the things that makes me frustrated and disappointed like nothing else is when people do not vote. Your ancestors fought and died to give you this freedom, and you're just ignoring it? Throwing it away? Way to slap our founding fathers in the face.

Anyway. Tangent XD

I don't know why, but for some reason I just really wanted to share with you guys how much my country and my freedom mean to me. I would love to have the opportunity to serve my country. I plan to. Not in the military (although it's possible that God will call me to do that), but in the courts. As a lawyer, serving Justice.

I really, really, REALLY can't stand injustice.

Sorry. Another tangent.

Before I leave you with these deep, patriotic thought (XD), I'd like to print the lyrics to "God Bless The USA", and leave to the song. The song that started it all :) The song that gave me chills when I was little, and made my little heart swell with pride to be an American. I've tried to voice my feelings in this post, but the song says it all perfectly.

I, Kendra Logan, am proud to be an American.

God Bless The USA by Lee Greenwood

If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I’d worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.

I’d thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can’t take that away.

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota,
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there's pride in every American heart,
and its time we stand and say.

That I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

And I’m proud to be and American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

~Kendra

Two in One...Sorry!!

First of all, WHOA. Thanks for following, Hannah Ross, Miss Zara and LaSara! Y'all rock :) Sorry I couldn't find links for Hannah and Miss Zara, though :'(

Sorry I didn't post yesterday! Gosh, I had the post all ready, really, I just wanted to put some finishing touches on it and never got around to it. Here it is, all finished:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We finished the first season of Alias. Amazing episode, but the worst cliff hanger I've ever seen. Imagine having to wait an entire summer to see the next season!!!!!!

So, Will got tortured, though, and he cried. *hyperventilatingshudder* Y'all know I'm not good with that, but be proud of me; I was okay. I felt like bawling or going into shock (LOL), but I watched it all. I hate how I suck at taking guys' screaming, so I'm working on the whole toughen-up-and-deal-with-it part XD

So, other than that, I went to a Christmas party today! It was kind of awkward, because I don't have mutual friends to talk about with these people, though. They kept talking about people that I didn't know. And they're all masters of innuendos and twisting things. It was pretty okay, though, I'm definitely glad I went. I just hope they don't all think I'm a total dork XD I got a really cute journal and a Hershey bar as a Christmas present, though :)

I've also been doing a lot of serious thinking about lots of people. I should go into more detail so you don't feel like you've bee gypped, but I don't think I will ;P But I could use prayer, and so could one of my friends, if you don't mind? That'd be great :-/

Okay, there are only three days until Christmas. Three.

Tres.

Trois.

Tria.

THREE.

So, what do we do when there are only three days until Christmas?

Christmas Jokes, how about?

1. What did Adam say on the day before Christmas? It's Christmas, Eve. (WOW, that was lame.)

2. What do you get if you eat your Christmas decorations? Tinselitus.

3. Why did the elf push his bed into the fireplace? He wanted to sleep like a log.

MERRY THREE-DAYS-UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, now there are only--get ready for this--TWO DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!! But we'll get to that in a minute.

Today, my family hung out with another family (descriptive, right?). I've mentioned these guys before: Daniel (14, but awesome), Emily (12?), and Caleb (...10?). We went and saw the movie The Blind Side.

Now, no offense to those of you who like them, but I hate inspirational movies. I hate them. To me, they are all the same: the underdog with a bad past gets someone who finally believes in him. They help him out, something bad happens, someone dies, he stops trusting them, and then it ends happily. The entire point of those movies is to make you happy, but to give you the illusion of happiness, they must first make you sad as crap so they can then lift your spirits back up with inspiration.

-.-

Yeah, I hate inspirational movies. Guess what?

I LOVED THE BLIND SIDE.

I mean, WOW. This is an amazing movie. Shockingly *amazing*. I recommend it to anyone. Everything about it was really good. Just see it. It's truly awesome.

Then, my dad dropped Lizzy and me off at good ol' Barnes & Noble, where Cavender and I "happened" to bump into each other XD Yay for texting!

Then, we went to get Matt (little brother) a Christmas present. He had showed me this remote control car he wanted when we were out before. He's very good at subtle hinting. NOT. LOL, his exact words: "Kendra, come 'ere." *drags me over* "This is what you want to get me for Christmas. That one." *points* "See it? That one, right th--No, wait, THIS one...Ooh..."

:)

So, we went to get it. But, it turns out it's a slot car. In the words of Kyle and Cavender, "FAIL." So we ended up getting him a trick kite.

*blink*

I really hope Matt doesn't read this blog secretly...Nah, LOL.

Then, we came home, ate dinner, and decorated a friend's neighbor's house for Christmas. He's having a rough time with his family, lonely for Christmas, so we decided to surprise him with Christmas cheer, LOL :)

I'm freezing and my stomach hurts. But it is all good, my friend(s).

So, anyway, Christmas Countdown!!! Two days :D TWO DAYS. Here we go...

TWO FAVORITE CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS (as suggested by Cavender and approved by Kyle, LOL):

1. The Cross Collection. Every year, someone in my family makes a small cross. Usually, the cross will represent something or be made of something you've done throughout the year. Something that's defined you, or something that you've been interested in lately. The first year my mom taught eighth grade, she made a cross with Greek letters on it, because she had to learn and teach Greek. My dad has made a lot of stuff with woodworking. When Lizzy was little, it was her turn and Daddy helped her make a little cross out of Play-Doh :) Last year, I wrote a cross. It's a poem about the cross, but it's not cross-shaped. I thought it was a cool idea, haha :) This year it's Lizzy's turn again. Wonder what she'll do...?

2. Christmas dollhouse :) I won't go into this more because I've been talking about it a lot lately, but yeah. I love that.

Also, COMING TOMORROW:

AWARDS!!!! :)

MERRY TWO-DAYS-UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!!

Five Wise Men

VOTE ON THE STINKIN' POLL TO THE RIGHT! WE'RE BARELY HALFWAY! THIS IS PATHETIC ;) Just kidding.

THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING, BRIDGET ROWE! I can't find your blog, though, so no link :( Sorry!

*gasp* I am posting twice in a day??? *shock*

Yes. Sorry, LOL. I don't know why I didn't just save that little picture for this post. *shrug*

Okay, one quick thing: does anyone know how to get a scrolling blog button thing on the sidebar? You know, where the buttons scroll through and you can click on the button and it takes you to the blog...Can anyone tell me how to do that? Help would be appreciated, LOL, gracias.

Well, the crowd at church today was somewhat smaller than usual because of the snow. We all expected that, but we never cancel church because of weather. LOL, sometimes it's just my family, Matt and Katie's family, and one other family that show up!

After church, we went home, ate frozen pizzas, and watch Night at the Museum 2 until Mrs. Martha (Matt and Katie's mom) called. She was going Christmas shopping and didn't want to go alone. So, my mom went with her :) Matt and his dad, Mr. Leon, were going to go see the movie Avatar. I was immediately jealous. "WHAT?!" I wanted to see that! DARN.

Mrs. Martha came to pick up my mom, and it turned out Matt and Mr. Leon were in the car! They hadn't gone yet! I could still go! I was very excited until I heard that another of Matt's friends was with them. Darn again. I thought Matt would probably not be pleased with me if I crashed his boy time, so I told Mrs. Martha I'd just stay here. *SIGH* Now I regret that. Forget annoying my little brother! I really wanted to see that movie.

Okay, wow, that just sounded SOOO selfish. But, really, Matt *probably* wouldn't have cared that much if I had gone...Oh well. There will be other times. There WILL be. I will MAKE another time, LOL :)

I also finished reading Earwen's book today!!! She gave me the honor of critiquing it for her! It's an allegorical fantasy called "The Elmeria Chronicles: Shadows". She's selling copies for $20 if you'd like one. (I *think* the offer is still going on...slap me if I turn out to be wrong.) For more details on the offer, click HERE. If you read it and don't love Eristor, then give me your address so I can come over and knock some sense into you ;)

On a completely unrelated note, I just found this website that has good pictures for your basic fantasy heroes, heroines, etc. Not a lot to choose from, but for some reason it gave me a couple of story ideas right away! Maybe you'll have the same inspiration luck? We'll see. Click HERE if you'd like.

Alrighty, Christmas Countdown time! FIVE DAYS! WHOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How did that happen?? I've been counting down and it still snuck up on me! Christmas just has a way of doing that and there's apparently no way around it. *shrug*

Okay, ready?

Five Wise Men

...

Haha, you shoulda seen the look on your face--no, just kidding. But you were probably a bit confused, right? I mean, weren't there THREE wise men?

Nope.

I mean, there very well might have been, but there also might have been five. Or four. Or six. The truth is, the Bible doesn't actually say HOW MANY wise men went to visit Jesus, but since they brought three gifts (gold, frankincense and myrrh), we tend to assume that there were three of them. But we don't know for sure, and I'm all about exposing common myths, so...

five wise men :)

MERRY FIVE-DAYS-UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

Eleven of Kendra's Kristmas Memories

Thanks for following (again) Steven! WooT!

Okay, let me just say this in case any of y'all missed it ;)

VOTE ON THE POLL ON THE RIGHT! Can we get all 81 followers to vote? Let's find out. So far there are 26 votes. Even if you round that to 30, we're still missing 51 votes. That is pitiful ;) Let's get it in gear and vote, shaaaaaaaaaall we?

So, tonight I'm going to a birthday celebration. Katie ("little sister") is going to be ELEVEN years old! :O And to think I knew her when she ate Cheerios while sitting on Mrs. Martha's lap during church...*sniff sniff* LOL :)

I watched another Alias episode today. No Mr. Sark. *sob* But it's getting even more interesting. It used to be that I liked the show, but it wasn't like this constant thing on my mind or anything. Now it feels like either I'm watching Alias, or I'm thinking about watching Alias! I really, really recommend it. Really. It is awesome.

Alrighty, time for the Christmas Countdown! Eleven...eleven...eleven...

Eleven of Kendra's Kristmas Memories:

1. When I was two, I got a dollhouse for Christmas from my grandparents! It. Was. Awesome. Three floors of awesome with a little family and some furniture! I loved that dollhouse and collected more people and stuff for years and years. I played with it pretty much all day from ages 2-9 (except when in school). Then I played it regularly from ages 10-13. Most of my stories started out as "dollhouse shows". The main games I played were orphans, slaves, poor people, weird cultures, and runaways :) Oh, yes, and brothers. Always lots of brothers. Always an older, usually a younger, but always brothers.

2. When I was very little, I don't even know how old, we had a rule: after the tree was decorated, no one is allowed to touch the tree or the ornaments. One day my grandpa, "Papa", was carrying me around, and he reached out and touched an ornament. I gasped in horror and cried, "PAPA! Did you touch it???" It was apparently really funny :)

3. I have lots of memories of cooking for the Open House.

4. Two years ago, I was begging for a phone for Christmas. Not a cellphone, just a phone for my room. So I could talk on the phone without having to take the one from downstairs. I really wanted a phone. I wrote out organized lists of why I should get one and gave them to my parents periodically. I organized speeches and discussions and debates on why I should get a phone for my room. Well, guess what? I GOT THE PHONE! It was white and metallicy green. I actually cried a little :') It was a great phone, but recently it's stopped working. *sigh*

5. I have lots of Open House memories. Last year, this guy at my church named Daniel provoked me into debating home-school vs. public school. Ugh, not pretty. Something about him brings out the absolute worst in me.

6. Four years ago when I was eleven and Lizzy was nine, my mom made chocolate chip cookie dough truffles for the Open House for the first time. Lizzy loved them. A lot. Too much. She ate thirteen of them. It was not a happy night, let me tell you that ;)

7. At my old church, there was this thing called...wait, what is it called...? Journey to Bethlehem. Anyway, people from church dressed up as the many different "characters" in the Christmas story and then everyone walked around and visited the different "stations". I don't remember if I liked it or not, though, LOL!

8. Last year, was an interesting Christmas. I got a cellphone, which was such an absolute shock that I started crying. Yeah, I actually cried. It was so utterly unexpected. I hadn't even been asking for a cellphone! I also got a straightener, an iPod, and a ton of other little things. It was basically the ideal Christmas, but, guess what? I actually wasn't happy. Last year should have been an amazing Christmas, but it wasn't for some reason. Stuff really doesn't make you happy, y'all. I know you've heard that a million times, but it's true. I don't expect you to believe me, I never believed it REALLY. It's just one of those live and learn things. But be prepared, because stuff just doesn't do it.

9. When I was about four, I got a hippity hop for Christmas! Do y'all know what those are? It's like this big rubber ball with a handle that you sit on and bounce. Here, picture. Well, I have this grandma. She's kind of no-nonsense; I actually don't think she likes me all that much. Well, guess what she did? She got on the hippity hop! She took one bounce, and...fell right into the Christmas tree! LOL! To a four year old, it was pretty hilarious :)

10. When I was maybe twelve, I had a Christmas party. We played all sorts of games, one of which was seeing how many words you could make with "Merry Christmas". I lost, and I was mad, LOL! I'm supposed to be this awesome word person, so whenever I get showed up, it turns me into a Grinch ;) I've gotten better at hiding it, though. Still learning good sportsmanship, haha!

11. We have this manger. I think I've mentioned this before, but just in case you missed it, I'll just explain it a little. My dad made this manger, and every year at Christmas time, we put it out and put hay in it. It's our reminder that Jesus is coming. On Christmas Day, Jesus is in the manger! We bought this baby doll when I was really little; I don't remember not having it. I think he's beautiful. Maybe I'll post a picture sometime. But anyway, when I was maybe three, I got this baby girl doll for Christmas and named her Maria. I was wide-eyed and so thrilled with her that I ran to Baby Jesus and showed her to him :)

So there are Eleven of Kendra's Kristmas Memories that you could have lived without :) Ah well.

MERRY ELEVEN-DAYS-UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

OMGosh!

Holy wow! I have 80 followers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is so insane! I never thought I'd see the day! Good grief, how can all these people possibly care about what I have to say????? :)

For some reason this feels like a really momentous occasion (hence my posting twice in one day, usually a strict no-no of mine). I'm going to do two things in honor of it. First, obviously:

THANK YOU SOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSO MUCH CHRISTIANMILES AND THE COWGIRLS! Y'ALL ROCK! I recommend checking out both blogs I linked. The Cowgirls have a great blog where they post about their life in TN, and Christian has an amazing blog where he posts writing tips. Super helpful, check it out!

Second, I'm going to see how many people actually READ the blog :) The gadget says 80 followers, but wonder how true that is? Let's see how many of you guys are really paying attention ;) I'm putting a poll on the side, let's see if we can get 80 votes! I've been wanting to test this for a while, and the 80th Follower Celebration seems like the right time to do it.

Thanks so much to all you guys. You make blogging the best experience ever. What would I do without you?

14 Open House Goodies

Whoa! Followers gallore! Haha, thanks for following (again) JT Norlander and achieve1dream!

Also, [no name] was wondering if anyone else is having trouble "accessing" the playlist on the side?

Fourteen days until Christmas! Two weeks! Except Christmas is on a Friday, so it seems like it should be thirteen days, but if you count it out, we're all set to hit 0 days on the 25. I know there's a reason for this, but I'm not a number brain so I'm basically just not going to try to figure that one out. Lol :)

Today was the [insert name of small town] Christmas Parade! My church always sets up a stage where our band plays and then a tent where we give out free hot drinks and goodies. It's always fun, I love [insert name of small town]. Everyone is so friendly and awesome. A bunch of us (Cassie Roads, GracieTheFirst, Lizzy, Katie ["little sister"], David and Daniel) walked to Dollar General. We ended up buying Wint o Green mints and dinner mints. We're crazy :)

It wasn't 18 degrees like I thought it was supposed to be. It actually wasn't that cold. I think it hung somewhere around the mid 30s maybe? Anyway, it wasn't too bad, and I walked away with my fair share of candy :)

Tonight my neighborhood is having a "progressive dinner". Some of you probably know what it is, but it's a 6 (I think) course dinner and for each course we go to someone else's house! The first stop is wine tasting; my family is bringing our own sparkling grape juice :) Just for the record, we don't see anything wrong with Christians drinking wine, we just don't, haha!

Tomorrow is my family's annual Open House. I may have mentioned it before. My mom and Lizzy make tons of Christmas goodies and people come eat them with us. It's supposed to be from 2-5, but there are always some people hanging around at like 8 *cough* Matt and Katie's family *cough* :)

So, now the part you've all really been waiting for, the Christmas Countdown! What will we do today...?

Fourteen Foods We Have At the Open House! (If you want a recipe, just ask :D)

1. Peppermint pretzels (pretzels dipped in white chocolate with crushed peppermints)

2. Cookie dough truffles (chocolate chip cookie dough balls dipped in chocolate)

3. Cheese wafers

4. Moravian sugar cookies (you've never had one until you've had my mom's!)

5. Pizza bites

6. Cinnamon-sugar pretzels

7. Veggies and dip

8. Double-chocolate-chip cookies

9. Hot apple cider

10. Red velvet cake (sometimes)

11. Ham-'n'-cheese puffs

12. Almond cluster candies

13. Lemon bars

14. Bacon roll-ups (bacon wrapped around a Club cracker with cinnamon)

Hope your mouth is watering :)

MERRY FOURTEEN-DAYS-UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!!

50 Words and 15 Days

Thanks for following shelbyevelyn!

Gosh, I gained another follower and lost another. Have I gotten really boring lately? :( Oh well. I had 77 followers for about an hour, so yay ;)

I also noticed that some of the blogs I've been following have disappeared off my blog list. Very suspicious. If there was any doubt about my computer hating me, it has been removed. I shall spend another part of the afternoon searching for the blogs I'm supposed to be following. *sighgrumble*

Anyway, on to 50 Word Friday!

It might be funny.
It might be wise.
A comment about living,
Or someone’s demise.

It might be scary.
Or even something gross.
Maybe something personal
Or something quite morose.

My posts are typically long;
Your eyes soon float away.
So once a week for you,
There’s 50 WORD FRIDAY!

There are only fifteen days until Christmas, y'all! WOOT! So, 15 Words That Remind Me of Christmas!

1. Santa
2. Holly
3. Tinsel
4. Stockings
5. Treats
6. Chestnuts
7. Jingle
8. Manger
9. Bethlehem
10. Presents
11. Pageants
12. Joy
13. Nutcrackers
14. Red-'n'-green
15. Candy canes

MERRY FIFTEEN-DAYS-UNTIL-CHRISTMAS!

Also:
I'm going to an ice skating party tonight!
I'm coming down with a cold *grumble*

EDIT: Ohhhhhhhhh! *revelation* The followers I'm losing are the same as the blogs my computer ditched! Yikes, I've got to go to my ex-followers blogs and explain what happened!

Sweet 16 Days Until...

So, first, of course: yay, Rachel B! Thanks for being a follower! And thank you also for correct apostrophe usage (her blog is called "Books' Hidden Corner")! I hate it when people mess that up ;)

I also lost a follower. *sigh* Let's all have a moment of silence in remembrance of the time I ALMOST had 77 followers (haha, Pirates of the Caribbean). *moment of silence*

So, anyway :) Guess what I'm about to do?? Mrs. Martha (Matt and Katie's mom, my second mom) is coming to pick me and Lizzy up any second now and we're going to Matt's band concert thing. He plays the saxophone. Cavender should also be there, I think. So this should be fun :D

EDIT: It was. Matt did well, Cavender did awesome!! I never heard you play before, Cavender. Great job!

After the concert we went to McDonald's and then on the way home Matt fell asleep. *Aww* *clears throat* Sorry. I just love him and Katie like their my real little brother and sister. Something about seeing them or Lizzy sleeping just makes my heart all warm and fuzzy :) <3

1. "Isn't it funny that at Christmas something in you gets so lonely for...I don't know what exactly, but it's something that you don't mind so much not having at other times." - Kate L. Bosher.

2. "There's nothing as mean as giving a little child something useful for Christmas." - Kin Hubbard

3. "There has been only one Christmas - the rest are anniversaries." - W.J. Cameron

4."Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind." ~Mary Ellen Chase

5. "He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree." - Roy L. Smith

6. "Oh for the good old days when people would stop Christmas shopping when they ran out of money." - Author Unknown

7. "The only blind person at Christmastime is he who has not Christmas in his heart." - Helen Keller

8. "Probably the reason we all go so haywire at Christmas time with the endless unrestrained and often silly buying of gifts is that we don't quite know how to put our love into words." - Harlan Miller

9. "I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph." - Shirley Temple

10. "What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus? Claustrophobic." - Unknown 11. "Let's be naughty and save Santa the trip." - Gary Allen

12. "There is no ideal Christmas; only the one Christmas you decide to make as a reflection of your values, desires, affections, traditions." - Bill McKibben

13. "Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." - Hamilton Wright Mabi

14. "I never believed in Santa Claus because I knew no white man would be coming into my neighborhood after dark." - Dick Gregory

15. "Some businessmen are saying this could be the greatest Christmas ever. I always thought that the first one was." - Art Fettig

16. "What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace." - Agnes M. Pharo

:)

Aw, this whole evening with Matt and Katie and Lizzy has me all sentimental :')

MERRY SIXTEEN-DAYS-UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

EIGHTEEN DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

FIRST, thanks for following, Glow Fish!!!
Second, I might have mentioned this yesterday...If I did, sorry for being repetitive: there's a Carpe Diem Christmas Countdown button on the sidebar, if you want to take it, be my guest :)

Okay, so in the spirit of Santa, here are 18 things I want for Christmas (in a perfect world, of course; I'm not holding my breath :))

1. A camera - No more asking Lizzy for hers!

2. A better straightener - Frying-hair-by-going-over-it-four-times-with-a-straightener-that-only-goes-up-to-250, FTL!

3. A treadmill - Maybe then I can get my butt out of the computer chair -.-

4. Harry Potter books

5. Pendragon books

6. The third Gallagher Girl book: "Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover"

7. iTunes gift cards

8. Journals - What can I say, I fill them up so fast!

9. Barnes & Noble gift cards

10. Bobby pins

11. An iHome - They play music, have an alarm clock, a regular clock, and they charge your iPod! What's not to like???

12. An older brother (but I do have KnightWing :)) - I'm not going into this for the millionth time, LOL!

13. Black Amethyst lotion from Bath & Body Works - It's "my" scent.

14. A Time-Turner

15. A gift for math and science - A girl can dream, can't she?

16. To write a story I don't look back on with disgust a year later - :-/ *sigh*

17. SNOW!

18. To be the best witness for Christ I can be.

So, yeah :) Now...

Wanna see our...

Our GIANT, TEN-FOOT Christmas tree??Aaand the smaller one we have for downstairs (it's artificial)?
Aaaaand a picture of me and Lizzy from every Christmas?
Aaaaaaand the organ that was my great-grand...something's?

Aaaaaaaaand (part of) my mom's Christmas tree collection?
Aaaaaaaaaaand the holly-berry-tinsel-twine-stuff in my room?

NINETEEN DAYS UNTIL!!!

First, two thank-yous:
Thanks to Cori for following!!! You rock!
Thanks for the Legolas Fan Award and the Eowyn's Courage Award, Eldarwen!! I love them. (You can see them on my sidebar just past the Visitors Since... and the Find it Fast thing.)

Also, I made a Christmas Blog Button :D It's on the side right there. Yeah, there. Feel free to put it on your blog :D Lols ;P

We are down to the teens! Only nineteen more days until Christmas!

What better way to celebrate the teens with a quick announcement?

I FINALLY CALLED THE NON-PUBLIC EDUCATION PEOPLE ABOUT GETTING MY PERMIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After waiting since MARCH for my parents to do it for me, Mrs. Martha (Matt and Katie's mom, my second mom) told me I should do it myself. Yesterday when we were at their house all day, she asked me when I got up in the morning. I told her (sheepishly) about ten, and she told me she'd call me at ten thirty and remind me to call them myself!

So this morning, my dad comes into my room while I'm still asleep and says, "Telephone," holding out the phone. I blink at him, my hair in a ponytail that WAS neat last night and a voice resembling a frog say, "Oh. It's Mrs. Martha..." I take the phone.

Me: *croak* "Hello?"
Mrs. Martha: "Hey, I told you I'd call!"
Me: *smiling groggily* "Yep." *getting out of bed* "I'm making a note to call right now..."
Mrs. Martha: "I have a meeting at 10 so I had to call earlier. Sorry."
Me: *freeze...look at clock...it's 9:30 WHEW* "Oh, it's fine. Thanks for calling!!"

So, I did :D And I should be receiving a certificate of eligibility within a couple of days! Yay!

FYI:
Favorite Christmas song ever: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. This is an awesome version by MercyMe.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Anyway. Now for the Christmas Countdown, 19 Things To Do This Christmas!

1. Bake cookies and decorate them
2. Get a favorite Christmas song
3. Decorate your tree
4. Buy the perfect gift for someone
5. Talk to someone you don't usually talk to
6. Eat a candy cane. I hate them, too, just DO IT ;P
7. DECIDE to be happy
8. Watch a Christmas special (Rudolf, The Grinch, Charlie Brown Christmas, etc.)
9. See snow (snow globes can count if necessary)
10. Have a fire in your fireplace
11. Read a Christmas book to a little kid
12. Know the Legend of the Christmas Spiders
13. Watch an old Christmas movie
14. Make a gingerbread man (/woman/boy/girl/dog/mouse/reindeer...)
15. Say, "Merry Christmas" (NOT "Happy Holidays") to a cashier
16. Do something nice for your mom
17. Make a wish list
18. Wear a Santa hat out in public
19. Drop a few coins in the Salvation Army's bucket thing

Ta-da! If anyone does all those things, I want to hear about it! I will also give out an award. Get busy! :)

MERRY NINETEEN-DAYS-UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!!

Twenty Awesome Things About Today

Hey, thanks to Josh S. for following!

Twenty days until Christmas!

Twenty Awesome (well, mostly) Things About Today:

[Introduction:
Matt: 13-year-old "little brother" I've known for...a decade.
Katie: 10 (will be 11 in...9 days)-year-old "little sister", I've known for a decade.
Hershey: Their English springer spaniel
Cassie Roads: 17 girl at my church and school :D]

1. My family and a couple of other families went over to Matt and Katie's house to have lunch and help decorate the tree, etc.

2. Katie said we were her cousins (we're not technically related, like, at all).

3. I got to help her and Matt with school work.

4. Matt, Cassie Roads and I watched UP, Robots AND The Incredibles.

5. My family wanted to do some Christmas shopping, but I told them I was staying at Matt and Katie's house. So they left me :D

6. I fell asleep on the couch upstairs with Matt and Cassie while watching The Incredibles.

7. I was jolted awake when Matt slapped my feet. He was like, "Oh. Sorry. I thought Hershey (the dog) drug something up..." -.-

8. Matt let me hold his Ugly Doll (which I think is ADORABLE).

9. I fell asleep again holding said Ugly Doll.

10. Matt woke me up AGAIN and then took the Ugly Doll away.

11. And then hurled it at my head.

12. I hurled it back.

13. (repeat twelve or thirteen times)

14. Matt's dad came in when were all talking about something that COULD have been really wrong, but it wasn't, but he came in at just the wrong time, so...

15. I got to eat pizza.

16. I drew the world's cutest stick-family on a napkin.

17. Matt kept taking/threatening to shred/hiding the napkin.

18. I accidentally LEFT the napkin :'(

19. Matt did an absolutely ***HILARIOUS*** impression of a Southern Gospel Preacher (I was dying on the floor laughing).

20. I had a big family from 12:30 until 9 tonight, and I am very happy but lonely now O.O,

So basically, awesome day that I hope I'll remember forever and ever :)

P.S.
EXTRAS:

21: Matt singing "How Many Kings" until he got so sick of it he started moaning.

22. Matt shooting us with Nerf guns all day at random times.

23. Hershey chasing stuff behind the couch at lightning speed.

24. Mrs. Martha (M and K's mom) telling Matt to stop acting like a little brother to me and be gentlemen (insert actually LOL).

Twenty-Two Days: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

First, let me draw your attention to the new header! Isn't it great? Thanks, Bethany, you're awesome :)

Second, thank for following Moriah!!

Okay, so today is a "Christmas Thing" day. (The odd numbered days are going to be interesting facts about the number, the even numbered days will be Christmas Things. If anyone has a better name for that, let me know XD)

Tonight, my family and I went to see "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". Some of my friends from "Mulan" were in it!

Well, the pageant was GREAT. It was hilarious and even kind of moving. Imogene Herdman was played by the girl who played Mushu in "Mulan". She did a really wonderful job.

For anyone who doesn't know what the play is about, I'll explain it a little. Every year this small-town church puts on "the Christmas pageant". The preacher's son is always Joseph, and irritating Alice the Perfect is always Mary. This year's pageant is scheduled to be much the same until two things happen:

#1: The lady who always directs it breaks her leg and ends up bedridden.

#2: The five Herdman kids decide they want to participate.

The Herdmans are the worst children in town. No, in the whole WORLD. They lie, steal, cheat, fight, bite, and smoke, and they've NEVER been to church before. Every one of them is plain mean, from oldest to youngest they just get worse.

They crash the pageant auditions, and, through questionable means, land all the main parts in the play!

This is either going to be the worst, or...

"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever".

It's a really fun book (yeah, it was a book first), but the play was even better. I'd recommend it to anyone! It's a quick read and definitely worth it.

And that was my "Christmas Thing" for today!

MERRY TWENTY-TWO-DAYS-UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!!

My Thanksgiving and a Tag!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! As cheesy as it might sound, I'm really thankful for you all and this blog. Having somewhere to write whatever I feel like is great, but knowing I have people who care reading it is ten times better :) I appreciate you all so much! God bless you guys!

Today was fun! I woke up a little after nine and watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, OF COURSE. Totally a family tradition. After a while I got dressed in nice(ish) clothes, and Kathleen came upstairs. (She's a late-sleeper :D) My aunt, uncle, and other cousin Garrett arrived at about noon. Garrett (will be 15 in December) is so tall :-/ I feel tiny next to him, which is never the case. He's 6'2" and I'm like 5'7". *shudder* :P

After dinner (turkey, ham, sweet potato pie, corn casserole, stuffing kind #1, stuffing kind #2, cranberry sauce, strawberry salad, rolls, pumpkin pie, gingerbread cake, and pound cake!), we cousins always just mess around for a while before everyone goes to visit my grandfather's grave and then my great uncle. My grandpa died in 2001 :( and my great uncle just...never comes out of his house except to play golf and go to the store. LOL. Some day I'll do a post about my dad's side of the family. It's...really something XD

Depending on what mood my great uncle is in, the visits range from short and stiff to really fun and engaging. But before I get into the visit itself, allow me a quick paragraph on his house.

It's really big and old and completely white on the outside. There's a porch, but it's just like an inch off the ground and, like, gray concrete. There are big white pillars that go from the ground to the top of the house. It's definitely not pretty.

Then you open the door. Right in front of you are steep, freaky stairs. All along the stairs are giant boxes and garbage bags filled with STUFF. To your left is a room with a fire place, two couches covered with the UGLIEST orange and brown pattern ever. Then there are about fifty boxes and twenty garbage bags full of STUFF. To your right is the dining room minus a table, chairs, and a china cabinet. And yet, it's completely full. OF BOXES AND GARBAGE BAGS OF STUFF. Don't even get me STARTED on the man's kitchen. You'd have to pay me a lot to attempt to find anything, and even more to eat anything that came out of it.

Basically, the guy's the world's biggest pack rat. Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration. In the WHOLE WORLD, maybe he comes in more like...second. But maybe that's being too kind. My great uncle has...some of everything. He hits every sale Wal-Mart ever has and buys at least three of whatever it is. Yard sales are his thing. Basically anything kind of sale is his thing. The useless family heirlooms he's collected are crazy. I mean...I don't even want to get into it.

BUT, he did have a couple of items of considerable interest to me and Garrett: SWORDS.

Real swords!! From Thailand and India! A machete and...some other kind of way cooler sword. And several cool knives. Oh man, that was so awesome. I want a sword really bad(ly). Actually, I want a dagger. Well, I call it a dagger. My dad says what I want isn't called a "dagger" (excuuuuuuuse me, lol). I want something small (maybe a four or five inch blade) and sharp that comes in a little sheath. Is that not a dagger? Einar? Is that not a dagger?

Anyway, the sword part was freaking EPIC, and my great uncle was in a really awesome mood. We had tons of fun and took plenty of pictures to show my grandmother. *grins evilly* Maybe I'll upload them later.

Now, H--Gracie tagged me! The tag is fun, so read it if you feel like it. If you're leaving, HAPPY THANKSGIVING

TAG:

Do you like to write? YES.

Favorite books? Eragon, the Mortal Instruments Trilogy, the Farsala Trilogy and...I'm forgetting something...someone help me out...

Do you compose music/write songs? I haven't ever written the music down (I don't how), but I've written lots of lyrics and thought of some tunes.

Do you like poetry? Some.

Love someone so much who made you cry? Yeah :-/

Broken a bone? Nope. Maybe my pinkie toe a couple of summers ago, but it might have just been sprained. I never went to the doctor, so I'll never know...but I *can* move it by itself now >:D

Been in a police car? No.

Been on a boat? Are you kidding me?? I live next to a lake! I looooove boats. Good times, good times.

Fallen asleep in school? No, haha.

Did you sing today? Yep, in the car. I'm still figuring out the mystery of alto harmony...

KFC, Popeyes or Church's? Um, KFC. What kind of a choice is that?? Their mashed potatoes are especially excellent!

Chick-fil-a or What-a-burger? I have no clue what What-A-Burger is and Chick-fil-a fries in peanut oil, so it makes my throat hurt. *sigh* The injustices of life :)

Starbucks or McCafe? Starbucks. McCafe is good, and I love McDonald's, but nothing's quite like Starbucks.

What's your favorite time of year? SUMMER. Do you even have to ask!

Do you ever talk to yourself? No, never. But I do have several, um...*imaginary* friends that keep me great company ;)

Do you have a favorite treat you like to buy on occasion? Anything sour, and atomic fireballs :D

Do you believe the Bible is the literal Word of God and is infallible? Absolutely. Whether it's literal in the way we think of it in some places (mainly Genesis), I'm not sure about.

What's your favorite sport? Definitely dance. But if you insist on ball sports, SOCCER. I'm also dying to do fencing and archery though.

What color is your iPod? Silver

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? In THIS world? ;) Ireland.

If you could go to any fictional place, where would you go? TOUGH CHOICES. Alagaesia probably. Unless my own worlds count, and then it's a tie between Sorayoni and Jeolotoe.

Do you love to write or do you just like writing? Love it. When you like to write as much as I do, it stops being a "gift" and becomes a mental disease.

What do you want to be when you grow up? Lawyer-writer-mom-teacher. Don't you dare tell me I can't do it all >:D

Favorite animal? Puppies and anything adorable. I'm a sucker for those big eyes, lol :)

Favorite song? Hmm, it changes. Right now, Orchard of the Mines. AMAZING.

Do you like school? Eh, yeah, I guess. I love learning with everything in me, so I guess I have to. I do not like math and science at all, though.

Are you a people person? Yes. People are my coke. Lols, that sounds even weirder than I planned >:D

Do you like to talk? I will quote a Facebook flare: "Telling me to stop talking is like telling anyone else to stop breathing."

Favorite food? Ugh, seriously? Um, I love my mom's corn casserole. Also love M&Ms, Cadburry mini eggs and tomato soup.

Hobbies? Reading, writing...um...arguing, goofing off on the computer, reading, writing, hanging out with friends, languages, writing, music, reading.

Favorite author? Hilari Bell is definitely one of the most brilliant writers I've ever read. Cassandra Clare is extremely talented, too, though. (This is not including obvious ones like Tolkien and all the famous people XD)

Favorite weapon? My mind. But if it has to be concrete, I'll definitely side with Gracie and say a bow and arrow.

Is this a fun tag, or are you getting bored? Fun, but I really should be with my family on Thanksgiving, so it's getting kinda long...

Do you like Hannah Montana and all those girly people and movies like High school Musical? Shoot me, no.

What are you scared of? Forgetting, losing people I love, and crane flies.

Favorite flowers? I do not know...

What is the expression on your face? Glazed and bored-looking, even though I'm not really.

Color of your eyes? Blue and green. Kinda like THIS.

Who are you going to tag and why?

1. Kyle Hendricks, because he says he never gets tagged.
2. Chris Kolmorgen, because he's proof that good Christians can still accept Twilight :)
3. Lady Brainsample, because she wrote older brothers into her stories, too.
4. KnightWing, because he's my internet older brother :D
5. Bleah, because she's my newest awesome follower!

Thanks!!

Kathleen!

My awesome cousin Kathleen is home from college and staying with us over Thanksgiving!! She's amazing and I love her so much. I can talk to her about anything. If I don't have an older brother (in real life, I do have an "internet" one, though :D), at least I can have an older sister!

<3

The Magic Ring Part I

Thanks to Sarah and Maggie S (for whom I can't find a blog!) for following!! Wow, 67 is an insane number! You guys are so amazing :)

Anyway, the votes are in. After a measly 12 votes (haha, just kidding), the first partial story to be published in serial form is...

"THE MAGIC RING"!!

Lame title, I know. It's not a real title, just the working title. I only got a few thousand words into the story, so a title was kind of the last thing on my mind.

Stories to Come...
1st runner up: "A Spark of Strength" I'll do this one next; it will probably take a long time.
2nd runner up: "The Girl and the Ring" Same thing with this title; cruddy, I know.
3rd runner up: "The Strange Lives of Zillah and Ria" This is a pet story of mine; I love it :)
4th runner up: "Desirae Mayes" Poor Desirae, no one likes her. LOL, just kidding.

Alright, so now I have to decide how I want to do this. Weekly installments? Daily? If your care, leave a comment, otherwise I'll decide all on my own. >:D Mwahahaha :)

So, without further ado...

The Magic Ring
Written at age 12-13
Total number of words: 4,214

Personal Ratings (1-10):
Plot: 5.5
Style: 7

Part I:

“Katelyn!” Called Mrs. Mullen from the bottom of the steps. “Come downstairs. Your grandparents are here.” Katelyn looked up from her book with a faraway look. Slowly, her brain found its way back to Earth and she yelled,

“Coming, Mom!” Then, she grumbled to herself. “Why now? Why now at the most exciting place in the whole book?!” She sat up from laying on her stomach on her bed and snatched around on the floor for the first two dimensional object she could find. Her hand landed on a piece of wrapping paper from one of her birthday gifts from yesterday. She stuck it tightly in between the pages of the book to serve as a bookmark. Katelyn loved to read, but she could never find a real bookmark when she needed one. The book was a great, epic fantasy with dragons and evil and elves and magic—Katelyn’s favorite kind of book. The book had been a present from her fifteen year old sister Jamie on the occasion of Katelyn's long-awaited thirteenth birthday.

“Why at the best part? Why at the best part?” Katelyn kept muttering to herself. She would have rather read than eaten, much less eaten with her mother’s parents: Gram and Pap.

Gram wasn’t really the sort of person a teenage girl liked to have around. She had gray-ish black hair that would have come down to her waist if it hadn’t been tightly wound into a sensible-looking bun. She was very small and very thin and sort of shriveled-looking. Her nose was sharp and pointed and always seemed to be directed at you. Her thin, pursed lips seemed to just adore pointing out all of Katelyn's faults.

Pap was huge in every way conceived by man. He was tall and fat and loud. He was bald as a bowling ball with big ears and still went to the barber shop every month to chat with the barber and hear some gossip. He had a wide mouth that was always going—and twitching whenever it wasn’t—and he always laughed loudly at his own jokes—which were rarely humorous to anyone else. He was the kind of person who only heard himself and it was better just to smile and nod.

Katelyn slowly made her way down stairs. Gram and Pap had come for Katelyn’s birthday dinner. They and Katelyn’s best friend Caroline had been invited. Of course, Caroline would come on time. Gram and Pap were forty-five minutes early.

“There’s the teenager!” boomed Pap as Katelyn rounded the corner into the living room. Pap roared with laughter and his enormous stomach shook. Gram nodded curtly at Katelyn.

“How are you doing, Katelyn Elizabeth?” she asked rhetorically. Katelyn smiled perhaps a little too big and gave each of her grandparents a hug. It was four forty-five. Dinner would be at six… Katelyn tried to estimate how long it would be before she could get back to her book. Let’s see. An hour for dinner and an hour for talking…Eight o clock! Three hours and fifteen minutes till freedom and happiness! Katelyn’s smile froze on her lips.

Whatever happened to the pursuit of happiness?! She thought bitterly.

“Mom! Dad!” greeted Mrs. Mullen as she walked in from the kitchen. “Sit down. Roger will be here late, he had to work.” Roger was Katelyn’s dad. “Would you like anything to drink?” Pap laughed for no reason.

“I’ll have a glass of iced tea, thank ya muchly!” he said. Gram gave a small, insincere smiled.

“Nothing for me, Grace,” she said. Mrs. Mullen went to get the iced tea, leaving Katelyn alone with her grandparents. Katelyn sank into an armchair and looked around the room. A loud silence settled in the air. Katelyn stole a quick look at Gram. She was sort of smirking or something. Katelyn looked at Pap. His mouth was twitching and he looked almost like he was trying not to smile. Were they trying to make her uncomfortable?!

“Um. I like your necklace, Gram,” Katelyn complimented. She hated it.

“Thank you, dear,” Gram replied stiffly. Pap looked around the room.

“Have you folks redecorated for us?” he asked in a hokey voice.

No, and you know it, thought Katelyn. Instead she answered,

“No, Pap, I don’t think so.” More silence. Time ticked by so slowly. Katelyn felt like it had been hours. How long could it take to get iced tea, for heaven’s sake?!

“Gram! Pap!” said a smooth and beautiful impression of surprise and delight. Katelyn didn’t have to turn around to know it was Jamie, probably with eight year old Emily right behind her. Jamie glided over to her grandparents, silky brown hair swept back into a perfect, medium-length ponytail. Her blue eyes sparkled. Katelyn snickered inwardly. She knew Jamie dislike Gram and Pap as much as she did, but she was much better at hiding it.

Eight-year-old Emily was cute and sweet and loved by all. She had blonde pigtails 24/7 and perfect pink lips, reminding Katelyn disgustingly of Cindy Brady. Gram and Pap showered her with gifts, so she loved them back. Gram and Pap loved Jamie, too. Jamie was sweet and polite and always knew just what to say. Katelyn didn’t think she was so much worse than her two sisters, but she despised Gram and Pap anyway, so it didn’t really matter. Gram smiled.

“There they are!” she grinned as if they were the birthday girls instead of Katelyn.

“How are you?” asked Jamie politely.

"We’re both doing well, thank you, Jamie Michelle,” said Gram. Gram always used their full names. Emily skipped over to Gram in her cutesiest way possible and smiled.

“Hi, Grammy!” she giggled. Gram looked down at her.

“There you are, Emily Cassandra!” she cried, giving the tiny girl a hug. Mrs. Mullen came back with the tea.

"Here you go, Dad,” she said as she handed Pap the glass. Pap sipped and made a contented grunting noise.

“Delicious,” he complimented. Mrs. Mullen sat down and brought up things to talk about, and Katelyn kept wishing for a fast-forward button.

P.S. Scroll down past the Followers thing on the right and look at that awesome widget that shows all the different countries that have visited! Well, people from those countries...You know what I mean :) Actually, if you're reading this, you've already scrolled past it, so scroll up a little...a little more...a little more...THERE! ;)

An Epic Song Epically Fails in Latin

Wow, two new followers! How awesome is that? Thanks, Izori and Einar!

Well, I took Bethany's advice and switched my internet browser from Internet Explorer to Firefox. So far, so good! It'll take me a while to get used to the slightly different way it works, and we all know how I detest change, but I think I'm going to be happy with this. One thing I'll have to get used to is the spell-check thing. Whenever I type "lol", it freaks out -.- I know I can just add "lol" to the dictionary, but I'm not sure if I want to. We'll see.

Remember that song "Preliator" by Globus that I posted a few days ago? I posted the Latin lyrics and challenged you all to see if you could translate it.

Well, I couldn't translate it in my head right, which was bugging me, so I started trying to work it out today. I made a frown-worthy discovery:

It doesn't mean anything.

Sure some of it make sense, but if the Latin lyrics I found are correct, whoever wrote the song had no idea what they were doing. The endings are inconsistent, and in some places not even correct. Like, some of the endings used don't even exist.

Even where I can translate whole chunks, it doesn't make sense. "I eat the family"? Um, no. But that's what it seems to say. I'm even overlooking the fact that the ending for "family" is incorrect.

Also, maybe this is just whoever wrote down the lyrics, but the words "dies" and "deus" are used interchangeably. *eyebrow* Um, sorry, they may sound alike (DIH-ace and DEE-us) but "day" and "God" aren't exactly synonyms.

*sigh*

Who knows, maybe I'm just a lowly high schooler who doesn't know her Latin, but...I don't think that's COMPLETELY the case for sure.

Sorry. Opposite from last night, I'm kind of grouchy right now. It's because of my sister. It's like she's been taking stupid pills lately.

She's plenty smart, really. She's funny, nice, helpful, good with people, and plenty smart. She has 0 confidence, though. I mean, really 0. And it's all happened all the sudden. She wasn't like this a month ago. I can't image what happened. I mean, I'm sure it's hormones, but she's driving me CRAZY. Typical conversation in the car:

Me (to my dad): I've been listening to this awesome song Kyle showed me lately.
Daddy: Oh, cool. What's it called?
Me: "Preliator". I can't wait to get an iTunes card so I can buy some more songs like that.
Lizzy: Did you say you can't wait to get an iTunes card so you can buy some more songs like that?
Me: Yes. (back to my dad) Anyway, do you want to listen to "Preliator"?
Daddy: Sur--
Lizzy: Did you say do we want to listen to "Pre...Pre..." What's it called?"
Me: "Preliator". Yes, that's what I said. Do you?
Daddy: Sure.
Lizzy: Um...
(I plug in my iPod and we start listening to it. Daddy turns it up a little. He likes music loud, like me.)
Me: Isn't it cool? It has kind of an eerie sound, don't you think?
Daddy: It d--
Lizzy: Did you say it has an eerie sound?
Me: YES!! (I turn around to look at her) For heavens sake! Stop repeating everything back to me!
Lizzy (looking shocked and hurt): I'm just trying to make sure I get it right.
Me (highly frustrated): Well, I wasn't even talking to you, so it doesn't really matter!"

*sigh* That's how every conversation has been lately. She repeats EVERY FREAKIN' THING you say, and then asks you what words mean. Words that she knows! "What does 'take advantage of' mean?" "What's a snort?" "What's bacteria?"

AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

And my mom is out of town, so I have to help Lizzy with her school work half the time, too!! Imagine trying to teach math to her when she's acting like this! Just reading half a page of her rhetoric book takes her thirty minutes and she has to ask me every sentence what stuff like "opportunity" is!

(repeat above exclamation)

She's not stupid, I don't want you to think that. But she sure is ACTING stupid. She's not. I'm sure of it. She's never been this do-less before. She's always been...I don't want to say "slow", 'cause that's not it. Just...now I don't want to sound cocky by saying "not as fast as me". But do you know what I mean? And she's always had confidence issues. But this is crazy! And it's driving me crazy!

(repeat above repeated exclamation)

*sigh* Sorry. I know this was long, ranting, personal and possibly mean. I just wanted to share this frustration. God knows I'm in need of a serious dose of patience right about now. Prayers would be appreciated, but I know there are a lot more important things going on in y'all's lives than me snapping my sister's head off, lol!

Vote on the poll :)