A Place in the Sky

look! I'm back in less than a month!

2005-09-19T01:40:49Z

woo!!!! I'm writing again so soon! yay!
Life has been great. I LOVE my classes and though I have homework, I don't seem as stressed as I should be by it. It's all been pretty well-timed... like not loads one night and then nothing the next. it's just a little each night. that's good. Homecoming week is coming up soon--next week to be exact. That'll be a rocking good time.. except a little stressful because I've gotta make sure things go as planned. and if they don't, even if it isn't my fault, I'll blame myself because i'm like that and it gets reflected back on me anyways. it seems like everything is gonna go well though... I mean, things are pretty much in order and just have to happen. I'm SO EXCITED for that week though.. shikes. it'll be utterly kick ass to teh universe. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. that is my excitement. right there.
these next couple fo weeks my fam from australia/arizona are in town so I was out in eden prairie all weekend chillin with them. good times with the fam I tell ya.
alrighty, I'm going to sleep so I'm alive and awake for tomorrow!
much love!
~Claire

where have I been?

2005-09-11T20:29:01Z

Wow. I miss livejournal. I have a lot of homework to do today so naturally I'm spending as much time dawdling on the internet as possible! I decided to check out some pictures that brita posted and, like I said before, I realize I miss livejournal. now, even though I've realized this I cannot promise I will update a lot now, but I think it's safe to say I will try to update more frequently at least. that's hopeful!
well, I should really get to my calc homework... but let's hope this isn't goodbye for another 6 months.
~Claire

my pictures

2005-03-26T01:32:31Z

Hey! I followed through and here are some pictures from Cozumel!!!

Downtown pictures...

This is at that Viva Mexico place where we got balloon hats

They played the Electric Slide and I guess no one except me and the waiter (guy on right) knew it, so we were the only ones dancing!

Blue, watered-down margaritas were the "free shots" at Viva Mexico

Mom, Dad and I downtown

Us at El Foco!~! (the place with the excellent tacos) The mexican guy on the left was the funny little chef dude and the guy in the middle was the kid working who was enamorred with the futbol game on in the background

Our names and my tribute to Phil on El Foco's ceiling

This one was all for Ali

Now for the beach...

My awesome still life

That was us every morning

I loved those hammocks

Some random...

Me on our patio ledge

The driveway of our resort

IGUANAS!

And finally, the sunsets...

my favorite!

back to the cold... but I missed here.

2005-03-25T04:21:31Z

I feel like I've missed a lot. I do miss lj when I don't update forever. I think I'm sick of writing though. Finally I'm done with English for the year and I've realized that I avoid writing at all costs now. But I've been out of town for the past five days (Cozumel, Mexico---wooot) and I've missed everything here, so I'm going to update... and since I have the time (finally! TIME! I never thought it would come...) I might update some pictures too... if I remember how.

My vacation was wonderful. We stayed at a great resort with great beaches and nice mexican workers. It had three downfalls though: 1) The beds were hard. 2) The food was really expensive there. 3) It was a good 3 1/2 miles from downtown (where all the action is) and it really wasn't an action-packed resort (made for relaxing mostly) so we had to pay for a taxi to and from town everyday. BUT, it was awesome place, no less. This was my normal day:
~Wake up around 7-8am to the sound of [really loud] Magpies (birds) and my dad trying to open the package of coffee

~Dad or mom opens the door to our patio and the warm breeze and bright sun (it was surprisingly light out at 7am) flood the room

~We eat breakfast (the first day: at the beach dining area with great waffles and orange juice--but too expensive to eat there every morning; the other days: granola bars and coffee---surprisingly satisfying, if I do say so)

~Head to the beach (our resort had a very long, very nice beach with little tables and umbrellas everywhere and a few hammocks)

~Lay on the beach and jump in the ocean and snorkle when it gets too hot

~around noon/1-ish, we were finished at the beach and were actually tired.. so we went back to our room and took a siesta. I didn't, though... being my nerdy self, I took practice ACT tests... heheh. but it was nice and peaceful and I did well on them---it must have been the fresh air.

~go downtown!

---We ate [the best] tacos [EVER!] the first night at this little place called El Foco. Afterwards, we signed their ceiling (their walls were too full) and I also wrote "Happy Bday Phil!" on it and took a picture... that's part of my present to him--a shoutout on his birthday on the ceiling of a cool mexican restaurant.
---The downtown area was a plaza with loads of shops surrounding it. All the shops sold the same things really: souvenirs, cuban cigars,jewelry, artwork, alcohol, etc. There were also a few farmacias and restaurantes around. My favorite farmacia was Cozumel Mart. There was also a McDonalds, Hard Rock and Senor Frogs. They had AWESOME churros stands. The last night, we stopped at that churro stand many times....heheh
---We ate at this awesome place called Viva Mexico one night. It had a little dancefloor and a dj playing music all night. The waiter made us all balloon hats. They also came around with bottles of blue margaritas and did "free shots" (basically a chugging contest).

~We'd get back from downtown around 8:30ish usually (one night we took a horse-and-buggy ride back) and then either hang around at the bar, on the beach, or in our room watching tv and eventually go to bed.

---The last night, we went to our resort's beach bar. My parents got a couple drinks while Laura and I got our virgin dacharis. Eventually my mom went to the room and it was Laura, Dad and I. Dad kept getting Caronas. Some other people sat down with us: two cruise ship engine inspectors (one was a 56-year-old british guy named Ronnie, the other a late 20s guy named Dave) and a couple college guys from Minnesota (one was really hot). Later a couple girls from Maple Grove sat down too.. The minnesotans were really rocking the bar Tuesday night. Anyways, my dad got really wasted. He eventually bought Laura and I Tequila Sunrises. Those are really good! I was introduced to alcoholic beverages... heheh. But really, laura and I ended up having to make sure dad didn't do anything stupid, so we didn't get too tipsy or anything. But that was fun, especially talking to that hot minnesotan.

Mexico was great. Definitely needed. I needed to relax and do nothing. I feel very refreshed and ready for spring (and thankfully, the weather here in Minnesota is becoming it's gorgeous, springy self). I missed everyone though. Six cruise ships come in a day in Cozumel and I was always seeing groups of college students partying it up with there friends and I really wished I had a big group of my friends down there with me. Man, we would have had an awesome time! But it would have been a different type of vacation than the one I got (and really needed) this time. And my family got along! Lots of times our family vacations have some tension in them (believe it.) but we all appreciated this one. My mom walked to our spot on teh beach one day with three wine coolers: one for her, one for my sister and I. You know my mom is enjoying herself when that happens. My dad didn't swear or talk to himself that much. You know my dad is at a low stress level when he doesn't swear or talk to himself. Laura and I didn't fight (except for one night when her camera got sand in it on the beach and wouldn't take pictures (she was also really tired) so she stomped back to the room and tripped over a chunk of cement with bare feet.. she was mad at me for that...? but she slept that off).
All in all, it was a great trip. The weather=gorgeous: constantly hot (65-95 degrees), partly cloudy (clouds are a beautiful break from the excruciatingly hot sun), and warm breeze. I ate a lot (yum...). I got to relax and not think.
But I missed home: my friends! my dogs! my bed! the newspaper! the smell of minnesota!
so the length of the trip was perfect.

My dad took the pictures to his friend's house to show him, so I don't have any to scan right now.. I really hope to scan them and update them though because there are some great ones. I'll try try try to get them updated by tomorrow.

For now, much love! I'm going to Good Friday service at 10am tomorrow so I should sleep.
g'night

"It hums and purrs like a seductive housecat;"

2005-01-20T00:02:52Z

Did today seem long to anyone else?
It seemed really long to me. I didn't have dance, which was very nice, and it wasn't a bad day, it was just long. We took a test in PreCalc and after I was done it seemed like the hour dragged on forever.

I'm really cold right now.... brr. my basement is freezing. I had really good pasta for dinner tonight and soon I'm off to good ol' youth group.

I'm also trying to memorize my Dramatic Interpretation speech for Adv. Speech class. It's a funny piece, I like it, from Still Life With Woodpecker by Tom Robbins.. if you're looking for something random to read, read that one---it's funny. The best part is that one of my lines is, "If this typewriter can't do it, then fuck it, it can't be done." Quality line. Today in Speech we were in the computer lab and Tom, Phil and I watched a bunch of JibJab cartoons. That was fun.

Gracious I'm cold. I'm gonna go try to memorize more and get a jacket on....

My Toes Are Cold

2005-01-18T23:24:48Z

hey! it's 21 degrees today and boy is it balmy! (hehe, Ali telagrafeuse thought it was funny when I used that word today). But my toes are freeeeezing. I don't like it when my toes are about to fall of with coldness and I can't possibly get them warm... I read somewhere that the only thing that really helps them get warm is if you soak your feet in warm/hot water. I tried it once and it works! But most of the time I don't have the time/access to soak my feet so I end up piling on socks. Socks are nice, too. I used to never sleep with my socks on--or really like socks at all for that matter-- but then I didn't like cold feet more than I didn't like socks and now I do sleep with socks on sometimes (but I always wake up with them off...?).

WOW, can you tell I'm in a good mood?
Today has been great. It started with this weekend because I had a very small amount of homework and a lot of time to hang around and do leisurely activities (watch thousands of movies, go to the mall, etc). Today added to the happiness, when Ivana pazangeltold me in speech that dance practice was cancelled. I really wasn't dreading dance today as much as I have before, but you know, not having it opened up my night a good bit. The rest of the day was downhill from there (in a good way), without homework in my 3rd, 4th or 5th hour classes (in band 5th hour, we had scale tests, but I took mine last thursday so I got to sit around and write notes, do homework, etc). I also had pasta for lunch. It makes me mad that it's Pasta Tuesday now instead of Pasta Wednesday (too many T's, Ali says) but it still made me happy to have lasagna for lunch. PLUS, tomorrow is Wednesday! Half of the week is almost over already. woot. the Happiness is just oozing right now.
And, because I have the time, I'm updating! woot!

Well, I'm off to soak my feet in warm water because the cold is getting to me...
adios!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2005-01-01T21:09:06Z

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

Well, it's 2005. Wow. My new year's resolution: update on LJ more. haha, well that's one of them. I actually haven't thought about what my resolutions are going to be... Honestly, I make some every year, but they're the really broad ones that are almost like goals of living (like, "eat healthy") and I eventually forget what they are half way through the year. My friend Britta always gives up something. Two years ago it was ice cream and last year it was chips. She said she's thinking about taking a year off from giving up stuff though. Goodness, a year without chips or ice cream... imagine. So, I've decided that this year, instead of coming up with another vague resolution, I'm going to hunt down that list of things I want to do before I die, and figure out which ones I want to accomplish by the year's end. Oh, and this year I know that I'm gonna try to not be so busy. I mean, I'm still writing in the same journal that I started on January 2, 2004! Obviously I was a bit busy this year. I loved all the things I did and the places I went, but I know 2005 brings enough stuff to do as it is (with SAT/ACTs, college app.s, etc) so I'll try not to tie myself up in too much else. I want to enjoy it...thoroughly enjoy it.
Anyways, I have some homework I still need to get done for going back to school on Monday, so I better get to it! I do feel an odd sense of replenishment of my optimism. It's like it all got drained out near the end of 2004 and all my mind really needed was a new year to feel optimistic again. It's weird how that works.

Ok, so I just looked at my list of things I want to do before I die, and I actually have accomplished some already! Like #25 was acquire a taste for seafood and this year I actually did that! I love fish n' chips, crab and cocktail shrimp now! woot. Ok, so for 2005, I have decided to try to accomplish #18 (qualify to be a lifeguard) and #30 (work at a coffee shop). You know, I need to revise my list because I have a lot of far-fetched stuff on there that's hard to accomplish while in high school. I should put some more realistic stuff too...

Well, love ya all and HAPPY NEW YEAR once again!
good luck with life!
~Claire

WHOA

2004-12-27T04:12:01Z

Hello and Merry Christmas everyone!
I suppose I'm the last person you'd expected to update next!
Well... here I am!
hahah... I truly miss livejournal, and all of you, my dear friends, too.
My Christmas was quite merry, though it seemed to go by too fast. I love this season because it's so full of joy and such, but I never seem to have the time anymore to really get into the spirit of the season. So, yes, I am a bit bummed it's over, but then again, I'm looking optimistically towards the new year (and a week without school! thank you lord).
I went up to Superior on Christmas day as always, but this year was a bit different because we went to my aunt and uncle's house instead of my grandma's. My three, adult cousins on that side were all there (which was nice because I was beginning to forget what they looked like) and I got to catch up on what's going on it their lives. Here's what I learned:
~My cousin Cara loves camping (which explained why she was so excited about the tent, fishing pole, and over-the-fire toaster she recieved)
~My recent-college-grad-juvenile-delinquent-officer cousin Ben tans (they have a tanning bed at the gym so it's "so convenient")
~My oldest cousin Josh's girlfriend is pregnant (6 months to be exact). I'll have a second cousin named Christian Joshua in February
~My uncle would have rather gotten the power drill than the ratchet set
Honestly, this was the most interesting Christmas so far! I feel like I have one of those TV families where you learn a lot of stuff when everyone gets together!
So, you may be like, "alright... so?" but I found these newfound facts to be exciting! hah. sorry, I am too easily amused.

Alright, so after reading other people's entries, I felt it was necessary (to follow the trend and all, because I conform) to list what I got for Christmas too. Here goes:
~GIFTCARDS! (American Eagle, Express, Gap, Rosedale, Aeropostle)
~some clothes (grey zip-up sweater, beige zip-up fleece, a couple Aeropostle t-shirts and an orange sweater that needs to be exchanged for a different size)
~Smallville Season 2 DVDs
~Love Actually DVD
~Leather driving gloves
~Roseville mittens
~Third Day (Wire), Jeremy Camp (Stay), DC Talk (hits) CDs
~Double CD pod
~cute underwear
~$$
(maybe there's more, but I'm forgetting then)
I was quite a kick in the bum when I carried all of it up to my room in one load. I'm not a child anymore :(
But overall I am very happy and excited about what I got!

Much love,
~Claire

80 days (and counting!) until St. Patrick's Day! woot. hahahahah

yawn hibernating is hard to get out of....

2004-09-27T22:49:52Z

Well, I am back. To be honest, I'm not sure I'll have much more time to update now than I did the past few months (which were extremely busy, went by too fast, but seem long when I look back because I fit so much into them) but I decided it's time to come back to good 'ol lj. I'll find the time... maybe.
Junior year has begun and I'm already scared. It will be busy and hard and stressful, but at the same time I have some excitement. I don't understand myself sometimes. When I go to bed at night, all of the things (like studying for the ACTs and SATs, applying for scholarships, etc) that don't have a deadline in the next week list up in my head and I feel the stress when I'm trying to get to sleep. During the day I'm just too busy to notice it. That is unfortunate, but atleast I can enjoy myself during the day. I've had a pretty awesome first few weeks of school. I've hung out with a bunch of friends on the weekends and caught up with friends I didn't see much over the summer. Things are going well and I've been doing well in classes and all.

I'd go on, but my pizza is burning in the oven so I gotta run. Maybe I'll write more tonight (when I should be spending my time doing those things that I complained I don't have the time to do... heheh. I becoming a procrastinator).

adios my lj friends.. I have missed you!

~Claire

dreamcloudca @ 2004-07-03T21:11:00

2004-07-04T04:13:43Z

this is a really random picture of Emmy and I in the band lockers at school that I find really amusing! :)

back to life

2004-07-02T22:15:34Z

Wow, Montana was wonderful. In a nutshell, we drove out to MT through South Dakota and stayed in Rapid City the first night. Then we arrived at Christikon and the next day hiked out from Christikon (base camp) to a campsite in the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Area of the Rocky Mountains (near McLeod, MT) that was 6 miles from base camp. We hiked everyday from that campsite and cleared trees that were blocking the path. Then we returned to Christikon after 4 days and clearing the entire path from base to our campsite, and headed home through North Dakota the next day (we stayed in Bismarck). We got home yesterday.

It was just an amazing experience to be outside everyday, working hard, roughing it in the cold rain, eating interesting (but surprisingly good) camping food, peeing in the woods and digger runs, getting to know people better and everything in between. I took three rolls of film and I got them back, but I am a bit disappointed. They are great pictures, but I didn't capture some things that I wished I would have. But, for someone who wasn't there, I'm sure I captured enough. I am in the process of scanning them and putting them on the web, so I will update them next time. Instead of typing up the journal I took with, I will just update some highlights...

1. Three new people: Kirsten and Scott, our counselors (Scott was quite attractive, which adds to my opinion that with the name of Scott, you must be hot-----The only person that breaks that rule is Scott Vadnais.. but that is besides the point); and Dan, a guy from Montana that goes to Christikon and hooks up with a group to hike with. He goes to school in Hong Kong, a British School, he's asian, and so he has a slight british accent (especially when he says, "Scott" and "God"). He was quite a funny guy and is now our youth group's pen pal.

2. Mountains and rapids and peace. While hiking we were often silent, so I got a lot of time to get lost in my thoughts, which is something I rarely get the chance to do. And because I was away from home, I didn't have to worry about all the responsibilities that home brings (like what I have to do today or tomorrow or who I need to plan something with). I was able to just clear my mind and admire the wonderful scenery (most of which was new to me) and have my time. And it was just picture perfect out there when the sun was out. (you'll see that when I update those pictures)

3. Hackysack. Steve, Keifer, Scott and Dan taught us how to play hacky sack and it ended up that whenever we'd have time to just hang around, we would get in a big circle and play hackysack. Man, we had some great laughs. I don't even remember what we laughed about most of the time, it was just random stuff, but I remember laughing so hard that my abs hurt. Plus, I have improved in my hackysack game so I might be alright for when WAPO rolls around.

4. New Experiences. Lets see, I went to the bathroom in the woods and could only use toilet paper on digger runs (going #2). I wore the same clothes for a week. Didn't shower or shave or wash my hair for a week; Hiked at least 4 miles a day (the farthest we hiked in a day was 10 miles); Learned how to correctly and successfully saw a log; Carried one-third my body weight on my back.... oh yes, and I perambulated!!! (singing and dancing as a group; I learned a jewish one and a russian one)

5. Random things that I learned (I'm sure there are more but here are some):
~it rains everyday in the mountains
~the perfect hiking weather is sunny with a slight breeze at about 65 degress
~driving over a curb could just land you with a flat tire
~hot chocolate is appreciated more outside in the cold dampness
~make a lot of noise to get black bears to leave-----but it doesn't always work
~find a spot near a tree for digger run holes----the ground is softer there
~the rapids water is COLD because it come from the snow on the mountains
~the ground is "high-hanging" when there is fog (don't ask.... Lars said that)
~South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming and Montana are quite barren.
~hill cows: cows that you see on hills that have two legs on one side shorter than on the other side so that they can stand on the hills better (another one of Lars' crazy ideas)
~wood can smell like the color of a peach sunset or a burnt red
~big trees will bind your saw
~hatcheting is harder than it looks

The experience of Montana went way beyond moments or events that can be remembered and described or displayed in pictures....it was a personal experience that no one can ever fully understand unless they were there, too; and even then it was a different experience for each of us.

~Claire

holahola

2004-06-22T15:12:01Z

I am super excited right now. We are leaving for Montana tomorrow!! wooooot. hahah. Caitlin, Brita, Brooke, Ivana and maybe Ali will be coming over in a couple hours for a braiding hair party because Brooke, Brita, Ivana and I are going to need braids for our week and a half of not washing our hair. ahhaha. We will look ghetto fabulous.

Last week I did VBS at church and I am just realizing how much fun I had doing it. I really benefitted from it. ya know after you do community service work or something you just feel good? Well I feel really good about doing VBS. And it was my first year of really being a leader for it and I'm so happy I got to get to know those little kids and teach them about God's love.

I'm really hoping this Montana trip will get me away from the busy, stress-filled life I've been living these past several months (and that I will probably live much of next school year). I need to relax, I need solitude. Nature is very good at putting someone in a peaceful state of mind... or atleast it works for me. I remember sittin at our last campsite last year in the Boundary Waters. The sun was setting and I was sitting next to Brooke on a peak on the little island we stayed on. We were writing in our journals and just looking out across the water all arounds us. The water was so blue up there and with the sunset it reflected each color clearly. You couldn't hear a sound except for the calls of the loons and sea gulls. It was so perfect. I hear that Christikon (where we are staying in Montana) is even more beautiful than the Boundary Waters, and it is another type of landscape (mountanous) that I've never experienced before. This should be a wonderful trip.

Luv you all and I will talk to you when I return (and hopefully post MANY pictures!!) on July 1!

~Claire

p.s. happy 22 belated birthday prince william

WOW!

2004-06-18T00:43:33Z

I'M BACK I'M BACK I'M BACK!!!

AND IT IS SUMMER!!!!!

man, sorry I've ignored LJ so much... The school year sucked the time away from me... but now it is summer and I hope to write more.. but hey, that's what I always say, right? yeah..

The summer has been pretty busy so far. I left for arizona the day after school got out to visit my grandparents with my dad, sister and Ivana came too! woot. that was really random but it added some fun to the vacation. It was nice and hot down there, but dry-hot, so 107 without humidity is a ton nicer than our humid-heat. But we did a day trip to Prescott, which has a higher altitude, and it was perfect there; about 89 degrees and breezy. We went to an art fair there, and at one point I was just laying on the grass in the middle of the Courthouse Square watching people and relaxing and it was perfect. I was so calm and relaxed, I remember that moment the most---and it was probably one of the moments while I was there when I was doing the least! But it was a lot like MN in Prescott, and I began to miss my good 'ol home of Minnesota. I don't think I could live in the desert. Too dry and barren. I missed the lush green grass and trees and wildlife of minnesota. But the mountains were cool. I really wanted to just climb to the top of one and look over everything. We drove pretty high up a couple times, and that was neat. Ivana and I had some good laughs about the names of streets down there: Bloody Basin Rd. (inviting, eh?), DrinkWater Blvd (it was actually named after Gov. DrinkWater), Carefree Hwy, and Table Mesa Rd (a bit redundant..). And we realized that palm trees are rarely straight! Even the little ones were crooked! hahha.
I have some pictures of AZ that I'll try to get up if I have the time.

I got back on Monday, and Tuesday through tomorrow I've been working VBS in the afternoons (and I sqeezed in dance practice yesterday afternoon, too). Tomorrow I will go to my aunt's house at 8:30am to hang out with her dogs while some workers fix something in her house (hey, I get paid...) and then VBS from noon-5 and then I'm going to the PRINCE CONCERT that evening. I AM SO PHSYCHED TO SEE PRINCE!!! I love him and I've never seen him in concert. Plus it's the final show out of three and the one from last night got GREAT reviews. Brita and Em said it was wonderful.

I'm off to Montana next Wednesday with church. MAN, that will be fun. I am SO excited for it!!!! Between then and now, I am basically doing stuff for church or dance or getting ready for the trip. Tonight I'm goin to the Oval for this teen fest (I usually do not attend these because they usually consist of middle schoolers more than high schoolers) because The Crisis Four is playing and I know a guy in the band (Tom Nash) and have been meaning to go see them play. Danielle, Brita, Ali, Steph and Keri are goin too, so that should be fun.

Hmm... I guess I am off then. I will try try try to update more often! I miss LJ much!!!

much love,
~Claire

a long time

2004-05-03T23:46:45Z

oh my. today has been blah. It started with what is usually an enjoyable trip to the Corner Coffee house with Ali. We were both quite tired, so therefore not very talkative, and the coffee house just made me mad. They weren't serving the food I liked and they charged me 4.50 for a smoothie and breadstick (both of which weren't very good). so that made me sad. I like my breakfast time and that was a bad breakfast. So I went home, had some doughnut, cake and macaroni. num. that was better. I am really tired. just in a really blah mood. my mom and I helped laura with her social studies project on the conflict in Northern Ireland all day and I discovered as I did my math homework that I didn't understand some of it and it drove me crazy. Its like my brain isn't functioning today. I just want to turn it off or something. well now all I have to do is read a couple pages in good old American Tragedy and then i have the choice to do just that-- turn it off. but I shouldn't. I should write my Junior Class President Campaign proposal or whatever you want to call it, just so I don't have to work on it later this week. and I should practice my clarinet or dance or something. ahg. I am being so dang lazy. djsaflj ew. I dislike being lazy, but at the same time I feel as though I deserve it. heck, I've been working my butt off since winter started and now I am inclined to work it off until this year is over, since it is so close to done.
I JUST WANT SUMMER!.
you dont even know how much I want summer. I am so unsatisfied right now. gah, and I am being depressing and negative. that is not what I want. but sometimes I have to vent. get out my anger or negativity or whatever. jafewoif. I just want to get my liscence and school to be done so I can do fun stuff this summer. and not think. flajksdio. I am sick of thinking.

gah, I am sorry this is so negative.

finally

2004-04-28T00:30:26Z

hello all!

I am at hastings high school right now, for the wonderful solo and ensemble contest. I am a band nerd... I enjoy band. We really have some good times.. and then I try to tell others about my good band times and they don't understand because you'd only understand if you were a band nerd. haha. ok.

my life has been busy. but I am going to go because I have to.

I have returned... to the computer atleast

2004-04-08T21:32:03Z

hello hello from a long time away.
(I don't think that made sense...)
Spring is here and it makes me very happy. Ever since getting back from the MASC State Convention in Owatonna last week, I've felt wonderful. It just seems like things are looking up... and for some reason, this trimester seems a whole lot more fun, even though I don't know what made last tri seem so dreary... it had its good times, too. Eh, I don't know if much that I write today will make a lot of sense, forgive me, I must not be in that making-sense mood.

Ivana drove me home from school today, along with Emily, Phil and Brita. Man, that was happy. We were all squashed in her tiny car, putting along the road. First her car wouldn't start because her steering wheel locked.... but we figured it out (actually, she just figdetted around with it until it turned on). A great beginning to a 3-day weekend. Easter is on Sunday, that officially means spring is here. and, oh! my birthday is in exactly one month.... that means driver's license is hopefully not much farther away! wooop!

I suppose I should tell about the MASC state convention, since I haven't updated about it yet. I meant to update about it the day I got back... and update all of my pictures, but that didn't happen---I've been very busy since I've been back. I will tell about it quickly though...even though I'm sure many of you have heard already.

It was the Minnesota Association of Student Councils State Convention in Owatonna, MN. I went with 4 other girls from my school (3 were my sophomore friends and one was freshman). It was 3 days, 3 nights long, and there were about 500 other students there from throughout MN (from International Falls to Detroit Lakes to Madison to La Crescent; they came from EVERYWHERE!). We stayed at a hotel the first night because it didn't officially start until Sunday. We met two girls, Lizzie and Jessie, from Henry Sibley (in our division), and ended up hanging out with them all convention. We are still gonna see them much more at division conventions and stuff throughout the year and hopefully outside of that too. (I made new friends! woo. heh) So there was a pre-convention dance and social at the Holiday Inn. That dance is memorable because it had the same music as regular school dances, same dancing. Danielle, Priya and I are not much of school-dance-dancers, so we just sat on the side for a bit. But, the Hennipen Division (Minneapolis) wanted everyone to dance, so they grabbed us and stood behind us, put their hands on our hips and just started grinding! They even sandwiched me! I admit, I felt a bit violated at first, but I eventually got the hang of it.heheh. So I can officially say that I learned how to "dance" (aka grind) at a Student Council convention! hahahah. Sunday was cool because it was registration/campaigning for 3 hours. The people running for Prez, Vice Prez and Secretary at the state level were campaiging because we would be voting for them on Monday. The campaigns are fun because they all give out tons of freebees and stuff with their campaigns on them (like juice boxes with "Get Your Daly Dose, Vote For Joe Daly for Prez" labels on them), plus, its the first time you start to meet people at the convention. I met a couple people from North St. Paul on Sunday: Tom and Blake. Tom is actually in Show Choir at North, which explains why he looked familiar to me because I saw him at Dan's Show Choir dinner-y thing in the fall. We also met our host families on Sunday. I was nervous because I know some people end up sleeping on futons in their host family's basements, but I was very lucky! I had two other girls in the house with me, whom I called my host sisters, and both were really nice. Also, our host family was loaded and we all got our own room with very nice furniature! Our host mother's sister lived behind them, so her sons, our host family's nephews, were always at our house. One was 10, the other was 18 (a senior at Owatonna, and oh man, hot). They had three guys from the convention staying at their house, so they were always over with us too. They were all cool guys. Brody, the senior of the other family, ended up driving us around when we needed to get somewhere, he was quite nice, and once again, quite hot. heheh. ANYWAYS, this all might sound boring, but probably because I am trying to sum it all up to shorten this entry..
The convention was basically made up of Exec Board Campaigsand Forums, Resolution ("laws" that we would like to get passed for the state of minnesota schools) discussions and debates, division meetings to discuss Candidates and Resolutions, a couple leadership speakers, our social night (music, dance and hypnotist), banquet, and of course, socializing and dances every night (oh, and a lot of food...). It was amazing! Since it was a convention of "school leaders", people in generall seemed much more socialable and inviting and whenever you were next to someone you didn't know (which was most of the time), you stuck out your hand and said, "Hi, I'm _______, what's your name?" and they would answer, and the next thing was, "Where are you from?" Most people would answer with a place that I had no idea existed, so I had a map with me and had as many people as possible circle where they were from and sign their names by it on the map. So, after they said where they were from, my line was, "can you sign my map?"
I met a bunch of good-lookin guys there, and most were really nice, too. Though, I'd talk to them for a bit, then we'd all have to split up, then we'd just wave as we were passing and thats was that. That was true with a lot of people I met, guy or girl. you meet so many people, but you really only come back to talk more with a handful of them.
Anyways, to my finale. The last night was the banquet and last dance. Throughout the couple of days with our host families, we'd met 5 or 6 of Brody's friends, and before the banquet and such, they decided they'd take us out to Perkins after the dance since it was our last night in Owatonna, and "there really isn't anything else to do" there. So at 11, he picked us up (we were still slightly dressed up from the banquet) and we went to Perkins to meet his friends and their host StuCo members there. We were the only people in the restaurant and we were all at an ubertable made up of a row of small tables. That was really awesome. As we got there, one of Brody's friends was playing the Crane Game to try to win a Wild hat. He kept putting money in, so I commented to the person nearest to me (without even glancing at them), "is it the play-till-you-win kind?" and the kind fellow next to me answers, "no, he's going to waste so much money on that hat" and I look at him and say, "by the time he gets it, he'll have paid for it!" and so the conversation started, and next were the lines ("Hi I'm......" "Where are you from?" etc.). So I met Sheffield Goodrich from Little Falls, MN (about 2 hours from here in Roseville), a very nice, quite good looking guy (sophomore, too) out of complete chance, and I am very happy I did! We ended up sitting across from each other at the tables and we just kept talking to each other. So I told him that I'd have to catch him the next day before we left to have him sign my map n' such. I found him on Tuesday, right before walking out the door, and got a picture with him and told him briefly about a Leadership Camp at Gustavus (that as dorky as it sounds, is actually supposed to be REALLY FUN) this summer and we chatted a bit and he told me to email him! So out of chance, at the very end of the last night, I met the nicest guy I'd met all convention. So I emailed him a few days later about everything, and tried not to get my hopes up because 1)we had just met 2)he lives 2 hours away, how would that ever work? 3)spare myself from unneccessary disappointment. But, didn't work, and I started losing hope when he hadn't emailed me back by Monday (I just can't hold back my girly faults). But, he emailed me back on TUESDAY! hahah. so anyways, we are beginning to converse over email now, and he seems like I'm not a bother and just as nice as when I met him (though most people at the convention probably acted differently than they usually do at home because of the fact that they were away from home). so yes, that is a happy little tidbit of my life.

Overall, though Student Council Conventions sound like they would be boring and cheesy, they are an experience of a lifetime and have a unique excitement within them that you can't find anywhere else.

As soon as I get the time, hopefully this weekend, I will post my pictures from the convention, which I am sure will be more interesting than my description.

I guess the only other things I was going to mention was about how life has been since spring break and getting back from MASC. Math has become really hard and Caitlin was smart and switched into regular precalc with a much better teacher, but Ivana (pazangel)and I made the decision to stick it out in good ol' Honors PreCalc (whatever doesn't kill you can only make you stronger, right?). I, along with the girls who went to State with me, am on the board for Charity Week, headed by my good friend, Priya, and have been working hard on getting everything for the Coffee House Social and Silent Art Auction ready and getting everything for the week ready. Also, tonight I am going to Emily Tran's house to choreograph the tryout dance because Danceteam tryouts for next year's season are next week already!! I've been busy, but I've enjoyed every minute of it.

and I really like my lunch this tri. I decided that today.

love, and happy easter/3-dayweekend if I don't update before this weekend is out!

I will return..unless I like Owatonna too much

2004-03-27T20:22:11Z

hellos!
In about 30 minutes, I will be off to Owatonna, MN for the State Student Council Convention. It sounds nerdy, right? Yes, and don't ask what we will do there because I really don't know! But I do know that it will most likely kick ass because it is 500 students from around Minnesota (we're staying at the Holiday Inn fully equipped with water park tonight) hanging out for 3 days and I am going with Kim, Danielle, Priya and a freshman. So basically it is a trip with my friends! woot. so I am excited.. and I will take many-a-pictures and I hope everyone has a good Monday and Tuesday back from Spring Break!
I will see you all on Wednesday!!
(there might be computers to use there, so I might update before I get back, but I don't know)

adios con el amor!

major photo post

2004-03-27T07:12:15Z

gracious, emily tran's birthday party was so much fun tonight! I got tons of awesome pictures so I will post about 50 of them.

Since it was dark outside, we had some fun taking pictures with the black window...

A super awesome picture of Brita... we tried to take another one but none of them turned out as cool as this one

Brita's expression is priceless......and so are those wonderful fingerprints!

Birthday Girl Emily Tran and Eric pose for a window shot

And Jeff insisted on carrying Caullyn for a shot

Jeff and Caullyn put on a great show

This is another cool one of Brita; the first one we took by the window actually

Then came cake time and a lot of posing for the camera

jeff started the cake-on-the-face thing

Emily and Caullyn....perfect for each other, and HOT

Brita and I get in on the action

I know I have a long face....

lets play that "Name-That-Stuff-Coming-Out-Of-Brita's-Mouth-Game"!!! (unfortunately, it's cake)

and nobody ever saw that...

no more cake!

Brita caught some sticky bubbles!

but I won because I got more!! hahahah

This is first of the many poses Brita and I took

Serious faces are not my forte

The Faygo

Caullyn loved the Faygo

"Look! My ball has crabs!"-Caullyn

Emmy and Caullyn

And they pose dramatically once again

They have cool umbrellas in their hair too!

Caullyn, Emmy and Brita trying to act bored

This one is better though; I love Emily's face! (now that's the essence of boredom!)

They're not bored anymore!

Tasha, Jeff, Caullyn and I acting shocked... or just weird

I love this happy group shot of Tasha, Jeff, Caullyn, Emily Tran, Emmy, Tiffany and Brita!

Tasha and Jeff both look so strained

And then there was the Paper Woman (Caullyn liked her)

But he felt a little uncomfortable when John kept urging him to talk to her

Mike wanted her, too.

this is a great action shot... John leaped by the camera while Emmy stared, Mike groped the Paper Woman and Caullyn looked like he was being pooped out by John

I call this one, Under The Palm Tree (Brita's nose looks like Merry's from LOTR!)

A Three-Man Hula!

Hello Tasha

First you're talking to her, the next thing ya know, she's fallen down again!

John and "his crabs" have umbrellas

The birthday girl (Emily) limbos with boyfriend (John)

I like this picture of Emily blowing bubbles. I also think the blob of soap hanging down looks funny.

They had to hula.. it was great

I'm so excited I'm flexing my neck muscles!

The Emily Ts!

Emily and I

John put ice down her shirt

The other Emily and I

There ya have it! Only snapshots of the good times, but I hope they captured the essence of the party.

Since it is Friday, and Spring Break is technically only 2 more days, I have to say that this has been an exciting Spring Break. It's been nice just to do whatever and it is FINALLY nice outside, here in Minnesota, so it seems like spring is on its way. Thank goodness too... I was getting depressed with winter. I guess I am kind of ready to head into the last 50 days of school... but first I am going to Owatonna for the State StuCo convention..hehheh.

dreamcloudca @ 2004-03-21T15:17:00

2004-03-21T23:20:58Z

Gophers Women's Basketball is great. They won today... tough game against UCLA. Ivana and I were stressed......and I don't think I'll have much of a voice tomorrow.

Spring Break has finally arrived, and as always, though it is a break from school, that is about all it is a break from. I am quite busy, but i am just so happy to be away from school for awhile. I have some homework, the most decanant being reading 150 pages in Tale Of Two Cities. I really like that book, but it takes so long for me to read~! Anyways... I am babysitting tonight, which is good for the money I'll make, but otherwise, I kind of wish I was able get some time to do my homework. I like to get it done early----it makes life easier.

last night I went joined Dan, Emily, Ali and IVana at Brita's house. That was good times. We hopped in dan's Durango adn drove around most of the time. It was happy because I like being with my friends. and I had spent the entire day in Supirior.

lala. I am sorry, I am a bore right now. I just felt like I needed to update since I never do really. I do read lj though.

i think I'll go now.

dreamcloudca @ 2004-03-15T16:57:00

2004-03-15T22:49:46Z

ahh, today was very good! This tri is so much better than second!!!

I have every class with Caitlin, which is nice because then I have a friend in every class. And we sit by each other in every class too!! (most classes were choose-your-seats but the ones that were assigned, we were assigned near each other!) Lunch is absolutely awesome! It's like last trimester's A lunch plus Brita, Emily, Caitlin, Noha,etc. Great times. Oh! and our second hour English with Paulson is SUPER! It is a really small class and there are only 7 guys in it! But its really fun people and it is nice to have it second hour, we are a bit more awake. I really need to practice my spanish because I didnt' have it last tri adn now I have it again and I was forgetting everything today! I love spanish though,its a great class, no matter the teacher. oh gracious, and precalc is fun because it is Caitlin, Ivana, Sarah Duffy, adn Vanessa Chae and I in a group. We get homework every night (or so she says to expect), but it's mostly the algebraic (sp?) type stuff, which doesn't take very long. I finished ours for tonight already. hmmm...

oh! and dance is over! It's weird, but it won't be over for long. At our spring show on saturday, it was announced that Emily Tran and I are captains for next year, so once tryouts are done, we'll probably be practicing some captain's practices and planning stuff for summer and next year's season already!

Oh man, its weird, too, that next week is Spring Break. I keep forgetting that and it is nice when I remember. It doesn't seem like I will have a lot of homework really. no big projects I am sure. yay!

now that I have more time after school, I will hopefully be updating more!!

adios for now!

..!kdsl.d....$$$$

2004-02-18T02:14:29Z

RULES:
1. Put your birth month in an entry.
2. Strike out anything that doesn't apply to you.
3. Bold the four that best apply to you.
4. Put all twelve months under a livejournal cut

MAY:
Stubborn ~~and hard-hearted~~. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. ~~Easily angered~~. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. ~~Needs no motivation~~. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear ~~and neck.~~ Good imagination. ~~Good physical.~~ Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. ~~Dislike being at home.~~ Restless. ~~Not having many children.~~ Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift.

Other Months:
JANUARY:
Stubborn and hard-hearted. Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be taught. Always looking at people's flaws and weaknesses. Likes to criticize. Hardworking and productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive and has deep thoughts. Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless excited or tense. Rather reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds. Romantic but has difficulties expressing love. Loves children. Loyal. Has great social abilities yet easily jealous. Very stubborn and money cautious.

FEBRUARY:
Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but those not show it. Dislike unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizing dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.

MARCH:
Attractive personality. Sexy. Affectionate. Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others. Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody.

APRIL:
Active and dynamic. Decisive and hasty but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people's problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Emotional. Aggressive. Hasty. Good memory. Moving Motivates oneself and others. Sickness usually of the head and chest. Sexy in a way that only their lover can see.

MAY:
Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike being at home. Restless. Not having many children. Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift.

JUNE:
Thinks far with vision. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having lots of ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Talkative. Daydreamer. Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Abiding. Able to show character. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Brand conscious. Executive. Stubborn.

JULY:
Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people's feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Likes to be quiet. Homely person. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Prone to having stomach and dieting problems. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover.

AUGUST:
Loves to joke. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave and fearless. Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride of oneself. Thirsty for praises. Extraordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly. Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in the arts, music and defense. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance against illnesses. Learns to relax. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and caring. Loves to make friends.

SEPTEMBER:
Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people's mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive.Thinking generous. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves sports, leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.

OCTOBER:
Loves to chat. Loves those who loves them. Loves to takes things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn't pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care of what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.

NOVEMBER:
Has a lot of ideas. Difficult to fathom. Thinks forward. Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas. Sharp thinking. Fine and strong clairvoyance. Can become good doctors. Dynamic in personality. Secretive. Inquisitive. Knows how to dig secrets. Always thinking. Less talkative but amiable. Brave and generous. Patient. Stubborn and hard-hearted. If there is a will, there is a way. Determined. Never give up. Hardly becomes angry unless provoked. Loves to be alone. Thinks differently from others. Sharp-minded. Motivates oneself. Does not appreciate praises. High-spirited. Well-built and tough. Deep love and emotions. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships. Homely. Hardworking. High abilities. Trustworthy. Honest and keeps secrets. Not able to control emotions. Unpredictable.

DECEMBER:
Loyal and generous. Sexy. Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing personality. Not egoistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions. Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical.

dreamcloudca @ 2004-02-14T13:20:00

2004-02-14T19:20:23Z

ahh. saturday.. I am so happy.
It is nice and sunny out too....
No homework really...
I have nothing to do at the moment, and everyone else is busy, so I think I will go see a movie that my sister is going to see with her friends. I told her I would sit on the other side of the theater and not associate with them... hehe..so she said I could join her. hahhaha.
I am off to see 50 first dates then. If you'd like to join me, call me before 2:00.

have a good day!! :)

dreamcloudca @ 2004-02-08T12:12:00

2004-02-08T18:12:26Z

last night was Sno!!
It was great fun. The preparations began at 1 oclock when I went to get my nails done with my sister. I felt so special because I'd never gotten fake nails before! So then I hung around all day until about 5 when I started doing my makeup and laura started my hair around 5:45. That's right, I trusted Laura with doing my hair, and she did a very good job! Peter came around 7 and my parents and his mom took pictures and such, and then we were off to Ciatti's to meet up with Em and Jeff. There were a lot of Sno-dance-going people there! (including a few from our school) We had a good time chatting until Em and Jeff came, and I finally got to meet Jeff, and he's not at all like i thought he'd be! He's quite nice and Em and him were REALLY cute together! We all ate really good food and had a great time with the desserts. The cheesecake was so dense, you had to eat it slowly because it took so long to get your fork through it! Then we were off to school around 9:15 (because our dances start unusually late) and it was so fun! We saw a bunch of people we knew and everyone looked so pretty! (and the cafeteria looked quite nice itself because my fellow StuCo-ers plus Ivana and Em and Michelle and others and I all decorated it on friday). We invited Emily Hanson and her date Sam, and Joe Gangl and his date over to PEter's afterwards, but we found out later that some chaperones or something suspected Sam of drinking and he did the breathilizer and tested positive, so poor Emily was tested too and it was just a bummer. So, needless to say, those four ended up not going to Peters. So it was just Em, Jeff, Peter and I and we were so tired, we just laughed and sat and munched on some food and listened to music. Overall, it was a very good time! It wasn't quite the same feeling as Brita or Emily's sno experience considering I am only friends with Peter, so it lacked that romantic aspect, but it was fun. I will post a pic once I get one uploaded.

soon I am off to lunch with Shell, which is exciting because I haven't seen her forever...

adios for now..

all my subjects are the same

2004-02-01T02:53:35Z

well, by posting this entry, I will be saying the same thing 5 other people who went on the Photography Club field trip to the St. Paul Winter Carnival Ice Palace today said. Oh my goodness, I've never been colder in my life. All of our feet were numb and we began to feel unnatural feelings in our toes. Marcus decided we will never again take for granted the feeling in our toes. hahha. Nonetheless, it was a good day. After we froze for 40 minutes at the ice palace, we went and ate at Cossetta's (and italian place). Then we drove up the hill to the St. Paul Cathedral, which was AMAZING. Gracious me, I am at a loss of words about that place. It was just so awe-inspiring. I really want to go to mass there sometime, even if I am Lutheran. Wonderful chunck of architecture there. I am posting some pictures of the day... We started off around 2pm at school and piled into the van. Brita (dancerchickdb ) sat in front with Ms. Finnegan; me, Marcus (grapeantler ) and another girl (who was nice and we felt bad we didn't know her name) sat in the first long seat, and Ivana (pazangel ), Ali (disconsolated ), and Emmy (emmy0001 ) sat in the back long seat.

We arrived and parked, loaded our cameras and adjusted our shutter speed. I also decided the guy who told us where to park was Irish, but chickened out on asking him if he really was. Oh yes, and we parked right behind the Maharaja's. Then we made our way across the street and around the outside of the palace (made entirely of ice blocks cut out of Lake Phalen) to get to the palace gates.

(sorry for that last one of the Xcel Center.. heheh.. the NHL All-Star game is coming.)

We finally got inside and our feet were beginning to freeze (quite painful!). So we enjoy ourselves as much as possible: take pictures on the ice thrones (too cold to really sit on), look at the walls where people stick coins, awe at the torch and ice sculptures, warm up in the proex booth (which is why my pictures in there are foggy) and admire the fish and hockey puck frozen in a block of ice. Yay for Winter Carnivals in Minnesota!

(We were reeeeeaaaaallllllllllly cold!!)

At Cossetta's, we endured the pain of thawing toes and had a good time with our digital cameras (caught some great moments)

The Cathedral was last and like I said, amazing. It was also very quite, and dimly lit, so my pictures are a bit dark (but way cool man)

dreamcloudca @ 2004-01-24T00:43:00

2004-01-24T06:43:52Z

ahh, finally I have a low-stress weekend on the outlook! I didn't have dance after school today because I am dancing tonight, and I just have to read a bit for homework! wooot! an no dance competitions or anything! yayay. ahaha
today i brought the digital camera to school to "document my day". I had to turn the flash off to get away with taking some pictures in class, so some are a bit blurry, but I tried to get as many pictures as I could!! Emmy and I got some great movies of band, gracious, Mr. Dehnel is amusing. I wish I could upload them, Emmy is gonna try to later.

I woke up and it was snowing! And it wasn't some nasty snow like we have been getting lately, it was very nice, pretty snow! so I couldn't resist, I took a bunch of pictures on the way to my bus stop!!

Eventually, Virginia and Joe joined me at the bus stop:

I make it to school alive, to be greeted at my locker by Ali and Ivana!

....and all the coats jammed in my "community locker"

...which emmy named Sexy Boy (and someone else, we don't know who, added, in this locker... we found that amusing)

1st hour is English Honors with Mr. Paulson. This class is great. Mr. Paulson is big on class participation and we are pretty good at it!

I love Ali (middle, with the hand) vs. Mathilda's (right) expression in the next one, and then Priya's (middle background) input

And Phil discusses politics with Dan

Ali and I are off to 2nd hour, and she does a little jig at the bottom of the Echo-stairs

I am greeted by Hillary, Ivana and Emmy before we sign in for gym class!! Go second hour gym with Schneider!

We sign in,

then enter

And Brita comes in after and changes for 3rd hour gym

After gym is A lunch. My lunch table awaits....

Emily doesn't look to happy, but Rick sure does!

Ivana and Tom take lunch seriously

and Michelle joins me to my left

while Tyler does his German homework

3rd hour is Biology, and we did a lab all hour, so I could only snap a few (unfortunately blurry) pictures of Michelle reading her textbook

Math comes 4th hour. We had an easy day and did equation worksheets instead of our unit. Go equations!

I caught Caitlin and Ryan a couple times

And Ms. Heinen explained a couple things to the class before we got to work (the blurriness of this one almost reminds me of The Ring...)

and we're off to work!

Ivana announced to me after math that she was nominated for Sno Royalty Court! Here she is showing the letter (I am not sure if it is readable):

AND LAST, BAND. What a great class. Again, it is too bad I can't upload movies... grr. but here are a few, yes, blurry, pictures from this wonderful class!
Mr. Dehnel, our conductor; clearly a band nerd (which is probably why we find him so amusing!) (eh, sorry they are so blurry, we had to be sneaky to get the pictures during class)

Us in the front row having wonderful band times:

Emmy and I play some great songs together..
Like Mayflower Overature, gosh, even the front page is exciting!

But Past the Equinox is our favorite, because we have a 50-something measure rest!! We nicknamed it The Drink Song

(above text: Saruman (left); Run Pippin!!)

And here is a little look into the death song, Satiric Dances. I play second and those are some HIGH notes....

The school day is over, and my locker is being emptied.

I board the bus and join my random group of bus-buddies for the long ride home...

Well, that is my day!

Tonight I danced at a girl's basketball game, and Ivana, Em and Tom played pepband. Brita joined them too! (she was sitting in a pepband full of black sweatshirts, and she had on orange... it was great) So afterwards, we all went off to Friday's! If it wasn't so late, and I wasn't falling asleep at the computer, I would upload those pictures too, but, well, you're gonna have to wait for those... ehehh. I need sleep. Eh, and that Friday's food did not sit well with me.

Adios all!

*A Place in the Sky*