Too Many Russian Beverages

Notice that I'm posting on a Thursday- a school night. This probably won't happen again for the rest of the year. School is back up again, and I'm looking forward to it. I'm determined to better this semester, mainly in English. (Hey, a 92.9% is better than I was expecting, but being disappointed with it is just the way I work.) I could do better in AP Euro too. Just good enough to beat Ryan.

I auditioned for District Honor band and I made it this year. Seventh chair. Not amazing, but I'm content. Congrats Josh and John. Yea- you're better than Miles. Stop smiling now. I'm looking forward to it, even though I don't know how great the music will be. But I'm just glad I made it.

I've started studying for my AP Chemistry and European History tests. Thanks Josh and Sheena for letting me borrow you're books. It saved me some $40, so I'm grateful. I took the diagnostic exam in the Chemistry book and only got a 3. That kind of made me mad, but if I'm not content yet, then I guess it'll just make me study harder. I'm getting a 5. Then dad promised I would be his favorite.

I've been watching a couple of TV shows lately. 24 has started back up again, and I'm really enjoying it. It's smarter than most shows I watch, and it's rare that I have problems with it. Like when I start to think "Okay, our government isn't that dumb..." Looking good this season. Another new show is Superstars of Dance. I went to a live recording a while back, and now it's great to see it on TV. The judges are stupid and the hosting is awful, but the dances are worth it all. (The Russian judge is pretty funny- that's who my title comes from, by the way. Hope I don't get too much grief for making that my title...)Some of my favorites have been the American Grovaloos, the Russian ballet dancer, the Australian and Argentinian couples, and India's Mythili. Hah, it sounds like I listed everyone, but there are so many dances. If you haven't yet, watch one or two of the shows. If you hate it, complain to me. But if you like any of the dances, tell me about it. The finale is the 26th of January and the show I attended comes on next Monday the 22nd.

Leftover T of R news- I got the pictures of the Mexican band. I told my Spanish teacher about them, and she asked if I got their e-mails. And I wish I had. Carlos, my section leader, did and he e-mails with them often. I told her about how I spoke Spanish, and she looked proud. She wasn't there to see how stupid I sounded I guess...

And here is something from John and Mitch. They posed themselves, honest. I had nothing to do with it, but take the pictures. And knowing those two, this made me laugh. There were some wires running across the walkway, so this was the caution they put on the cover.

I'm sure I forgot to write something here. Oh well... Have a good weekend.

-Julia

What does this say? Honor Band?

I know it's a little late, but I just read this bit by Orson Scott Card. As we look at all the things that say "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas". As to not offend anyone. Pretty clever in my opinion-

"I suppose the idea is that what if you accidentally said "merry Christmas" to a Jew or a Muslim or a (shudder) atheist. Heaven forbid you should commit such a heinous offense...

It's not as if we say, "As you think about the baby Jesus in Bethlehem, and all those slaughtered babies that were left behind for Herod's soldiers to kill after Jesus and his folks got away, and even though these events almost certainly have nothing to do with the 25th of December, have a merry day."
Or maybe, "As you drink yourself to oblivion in a dark saloon with atheists and unfaithful husbands who got kicked out of the house because of what happened at the office Christmas party, loathing everyone around you who believes in either God or Santa Claus, try to be merry."

Actually the whole banter is pretty clver. If you want to read more here is his website, or if you just want me to send that part to you, let me know.

My Christmas was decent. Saw a bunch of family and stuff. That was pretty gross. I actually got a new book by Orson Scott Card. I'll get to it now that I have a few seconds of free time. My sister and brother-in-law came out for the Christmas season. I've really missed them, and knowing I won't see her again until March and him again until November, it was pretty depressing as much as joyous. I was called a "punk" a "teenager" and even a "band kid" by Tyrel. I think he's showing affection... Kidding, but it was a great time. His favorite gift was the Matchbox pterodactyl I got him from Albertson's. With them they brought some 400 pictures from the wedding. Here are a few-

There's a million of these I want to put up, and if you want to see more, just let me know.

The Rose Parade is now over and done with. Six miles actually isn't that long. I was waiting for more after it was over. Oh, and I'd like to clarify that anyone who said Dodger stadium was horrible is a wimp. It's not that bad. At least not worth the complaints. Disneyland was pretty fun. Granted, we didn't get on that many rides, I had a fun time nonetheless. Highlight though- walking towards Tomorrowland in the mass of people I feel this tap on my shoulder. It was some trumpet players from Mexico that were marching in the Rose Parade. They were asking for a picture. So while we were crowding up the walkway and taking pictures, I started talking to one of them in Spanish. His name was Manuel. I must've sounded like such an idiot, but I was trying... Bandfest also came and went, and I didn't expect it to be that much fun. Being a left guide I had to memorize my spots for our field show, and I got yelled at enough. (I found it funny when I watched some of the videos back- The two that were yelling at me were either out of step or not guiding in the parade block.) But regardless it was all an amazing experience and some of the most fun I've had in a long time. I'd like to thank all the people that I was with, from those that came just once to see us, to those that I saw daily. And I never thought I'd create so many memories or like being around those people so much. We're going to be missing a lot of clarinets next year. There were eight seniors that won't be coming back next year. You could count John as a senior, but he's going to fail math so he can come back again.

Now that I'm done with T of R and deathly bored at home, I've been learning this song on my new-ish keyboard. It's Coldplay, but it's not Clocks. I doubt anyone I know has ever heard this song before (except Sheena), but I've been figuring it out by ear over the last couple days.

I'm off to start homework. Have a nice remainder of break.

-Julia