Christmas

On Christmas morning, Tina and I were awakened by Tim's voice asking, "Are you awake yet?". Tina hopped out of bed and began playing a game of Stratego with Tim while I slept for 15 more minutes. After I woke up we tried to begin a game of Parcheesi, but Mr.Jingles (our cat) curled on top of the box holding the game pieces and bit us when we invaded his personal space. We began singing Christmas carols and playing the piano until our parents woke up at 5:57 AM.  
Following tradition, I read the Nativity story out loud before my family began opening presents.
My favorite Christmas gifts included a Garmin GPS Forerunner watch (I screamed for joy about 5 times when I unwrapped it) and Jennifer Aniston perfume.
I almost nodded off a few times during the 11 AM church service since I had only slept for about five hours.



Peacock ring from my mom (:



Comfort Coffee

I don't just drink coffee for the caffeine. I drink it for the steam that rises toward your face as you lift up the thermos for a sip. The warmth when you wrap your fingers around the mug. The focus that it can bring when you have a pile of work to accomplish (as I do now).
Right now I am perched on my comforter with my dad's laptop (which I hijacked for my own use during this Christmas break). A green ceramic cup sitting on my nightstand holds my Colombia Supremo.
After reading my Bible and brewing my coffee this morning, my mind wandered, leading me to wonder where the Starbucks logo originated. Some of my friends have mused that she is a mermaid, while others have claimed that she represents a goddess from an ancient culture.
Well, I did some research, and it turns out that the zen-like green nymph is actually a siren. The same creature who sung sailors to their doom now reaches into the wallets of weary travelers on the highway, caffeine dependent students, and patrons of malls and shopping plazas.

http://gourmet-coffee-zone.com/starbucks-logo.html

swimming in the rain

"I'm swimming in the rain, I'm swimming in the rain, what a glorious feeling I'm swimming in the rain".  To be sung to the tune of "Singing in the Rain".

This morning I walked to the gym with Tim and Tina. Sadly, the basketball court was occupied by daycare children and the racquetball court was already reserved for the whole morning, so they had to resort to ab and weight work.
Putting my watch-timer on for 3 minutes, I changed into my swimsuit in the womens locker room, used the bathroom, walked to the pool, and put on my swim cap and goggles before the timer went off. Skills. First it started drizzling, then pouring, as my muscles remembered how to swim freestyle again. It felt great to be engaging in a cardiovascular activity again- something that wakes you up and challenges you physically and mentally.

Christmas Break!!!

  I refuse to call this wonderful two-week hiatus from school a "winter break" with the same resolve that keeps me from calling a Christmas tree a "holiday tree". For those intent on erasing any remnant of spirituality from our country's traditions, "holiday" is still translated into "holy day".   :p

Christmas "Break" Academic To-do List:

• Algebra II exam
• SEU essay
• Satire for AP Literature
• AP Lit. philosophy book pg.68-130 (about 3.5 pages per day)
• AP microeconomics powerpoint
• AP Art paintings

Recreation

• NAHS scrapbook
• Scrapbooking (mine has not been touched since 8th grade!)
• Sketching and photography, teaching my little cousins art
• Shopping for and wrapping Christmas presents
• heating and icing hamstring/groin pull, no running until Christmas
• swimming, strength training, leisurely walks

God bless you during this Christmas and New Year!

Christmas & Birthday Wish List

1. GPS watch
2. Platypus waterbottle 
3. Perfume: Jennifer Aniston or Estee Lauder's Pleasant Linens (Jennifer Aniston's fragrance is my favorite) 
4. Thorlos running socks
5. Yankz! shoelaces 

I also happen to love coffee, tea, stud earrings, cocktail rings (size 6), and running apparell...  (:

the pluck to play

"Any coward can fight a battle when he's sure of winning; but give me the man who has pluck to fight when he's sure of losing."     -George Eliot

Three home games in a single week is enough to tire even the most stamina-infused high school athlete - after the game there are always homework assignments to complete and tests to study for.  Despite a grueling academic week and having tasted both victory and defeat in two previous home games, Tina came to her JV basketball game against Dillard completely focused and ready to fight. She had told me before the game that they would most likely be "stomped" by Dillard's JV team, but she wanted to enter the game with the mindset that anything could happen. The Lady Bulldogs had some tough factors going against them: Dillard had plenty of fresh athletes to sub in through-out the four quarters, while the two extra girls that usually gave relief to the Lady Bulldogs were injured and unable to play. By the end of the third quarter the Lady Bulldogs were tired, evidenced by their lowered arms and slower footwork. The score at the end of the game was 11-64.

Although Tina knew that this game would be challenging, and although the opposing team's high score by the second quarter was formidable, she kept her game-face on and refused to shrug off responsibility.

art show, advice, & basketball

 

Girl with Brands




Swirl



Two of my pieces were featured in the Mindflow exhibition put together by my school's National Art Honors Society. Another accomplishment to add to my college resume!

My advice to anyone in highschool, even middleschool, is to make a list of your talents/interests and find clubs/organizations that will allow you to put them into practice. However, beware of overloading yourself with more than two clubs. I have friends who are in five or more clubs - they are stressed out, stay up past 1 AM on a daily basis, and have a difficult time specializing on certain projects.

For example, I am in only one club (NAHS) since I am editor of the yearbook and run cross-country  and track.



All of this basketball is so time-consuming. This is how Mr.Jingles makes sure Tina stays put after a game.



On Monday, Tina's team won their first home game 11-12, with Tina scoring the final game point with a free throw. She just so happened to also score half of the other points as well.