gabriels_horn

Harry Potter

2005-11-22T01:23:32Z

I have an AP chem test and an Acc. Trig test to study for, so this entry is going to be slightly on the small side.....just a little bit.

Well, I saw the HP movie on Friday....yay!!! Best one yet in my opinion, but I'm sure there are those who'll disagree with me, like die-hard HP fans or those who believe that HP is the devil and that J.K. Rowling should be burnt at the stake....wow....I just put HP fans and anti-HP fans having the same opinion in the same sentence.....I must be going mental.

Now it's time for me to study for trig and AP, go to violin lesson, perform for this Community Wide Thanksgiving service, and come home and sleep. Full day much? We shall see.

Short but Sweet

2005-11-08T02:32:27Z

Today's entry is probably going to be the shortest I've written yet. Why? 'Cause I'm pooped beyond reason and still haven't figured out how the coffee machine works...or at least how to make coffee not taste like coffee....

It's been a pretty ho-hum week. I did go to DC over fall break with the JROTC. Yeah....I know what you're thinking.....Ms. Science Club going with the Rotzis....freaky. But, believe or not, it actually was pretty fun. There were no clashes of opinions between ROTC and Science Club and what clashes did happen were within the individual groups. Actually, if I hadn't gone with ROTC, I wouldn't have been able to go on Bollin Air Force Base, which was really neat. (My thoughts when we arrived: "Oooooo, shiny........I like shiny.....)

Well, that's it for today. Time for me to go to bed and dream about the bad grades I'm going to make on my Trig quiz and my AP chem test......ugghhhh.....reaction rates and equilibrium......the mere thought of it makes me tremble....and gives me goose bumps....brrrrrrrrrr.....

Surprise, Surprise......a normal update! ;)

2005-10-20T01:21:15Z

     Well, I've decided that I'm actually going to do a normal update instead of a ranting that has pretty much made up the majority of my blog entries. More boring and less exciting , I know, but I figured that this is not only a place to spout steam, but to actually keep people updated about what's going on in my life. Well, here goes! :P

     We had our last tuesday night marching practice last night. (hallelujah!!) It went really well and I think at this coming Saturday's competition, we're going to actually win stuff for once!! Hopefully next year those in charge of the trumpet section (**cough cough me and dustin cough cough**) will get on the ball and teach these freshman how to march!! ;)

     We had a quiz in acc. trig and let me tell ya', that was fun. I think that I did pretty well on it. As long as we don't have any more identities, I think I'll be able to salvage my grade and pull it up to an A (hey, according to my mom, my B is definitely in need of salvaging). AP chem is as wonderful as always (**cough cough**). We're learning about reaction rates and kinetic energy in reactions. If that doesn't spell "great time", I don't know what does.;) As for chorus.....it's chorus. I just glad that Mrs. May hasn't gone into one of her panic/stress modes. When she goes into one of those, you better sit down, shut up, and sing like your heart depended on it. Bless her heart but one day, she's going to pop a blood vessel and it won't be pretty.

     Youth group went really well tonight. We're starting a new series called "Spiritual Habits". It talks about developing habits that'll help you grow stronger in your relationship with God and with other people. Scott (my youth minister) wants us to pick 3 of 6 activities to help us with these "spiritual habits". I'm really excited about this series. One word that describes the youth group I go to is "complacent". We're all good kids, but for many of us, it's hard to get excited about our faith. This series will be a great help for everyone.

     Well, even though I did a normal blog, it's actually turned out to be one of my longer ones. Huh, go figure. All well. If you didn't enjoy this normal one, don't worry. I'm sure something will come up that I'll go on and on about. :P

I'm surprised our species made it past the primordial ooze....

2005-10-15T03:47:07Z

People are cruel. They have no heart, no sympathy, no ability to see from another point of view. All they can see is how they can make themselves "superior" by putting down the underdog. What gives people the right to "make" themselves superior and others inferior? What gives people the right to throw mallets at a person and push them repeatedly when that person has enough courage to fight back? What gives people the right to call color guard people "fat" and tell the drumline that "they should just go home"?
Tonight in this blog, I was only going to say why I hadn't updated in a while and that midterms are an invention of the devil, but this has occupied my mind ever since I've gotten home. Being just 16, I've seen to much cruelty and sadness. Teenagers buy into the teenage stereotype the world has set up and they don't want to change. "Why should we have to change? That would be too much work." If teenagers would just try to be kind and not heartless, this world (or at least the high school world) would be a much better place. Teens wouldn't commit suicide because of thoughts of inadequacy, mainly from the "popular kids". People could actually like going to school, and not dread what torture they would go through that day. Life could be just that more livable if people would only try. Humans make mistakes. We accidentally say things we shouldn't and do things we shouldn't (and sometimes not accidentally). We gossip. slanderize, push, shove, hurt, beat down other people, even when we don't realize it. But that doesn't mean we should stop trying and be complacent with mediocrity. The reason we are where we are today is because we didn't stop trying. The "popular kids" changed themselves, and the underdogs weren't afraid anymore. If we don't change this sense of apathy, not only will our high schools go to pot, but the rest of the world will join. We can try to change this. We can stop this, but only if we are willing to first change ourselves. Only then can people be changed. Only then will we not be afraid of the "popular kids" and their taunts. After that, the only thing we have to fear is midterms....or should I say the-work-of-satan-terms. :)

"Before you can remove the splinter from your friend's eye, you must first remove the log in yours."

College.....oh boy....

2005-09-20T01:43:49Z

    Right after school on Monday, I left for Nashville. Five colleges were getting together at the Loews Hotel (spelled something like that) and at least three of them I was really considering. So I thought to myself, "what a great opportunity for me to see these college presentations and perhaps make some decisions about whether I would like to check them out or dump them in trash with all the other 'not in your life' trash pile,"......or something like that.

    So off I went to Nashville with my dad, he giving me his father talks that he thinks he hasn't given to me yet (Dad: "Alyssa, make sure you brush you teeth every morning or night or you'll get cavities that hurt" gives me the serious face Me:"Thanks dad for that bit of advice, 'cause I totally didn't know that back in elementary school. I will tuck that in with other important tidbits of wisdom." throws tidbit in file known as "stuff I've known for, like, ever"). All well, I love him anyway and i've gotten used to the repetitive talks. If he ever stopped, that's when I know that something is very, very, very wrong. So, keep with the talks dad!!

    Anyway, when we arrived at the hotel each college had booths set up in the corners of them room with, of course, mounds of people piled around, talking to the representative of the college and trying to give that representative a "good impression" by talking about their GPA and how they are the president of every known school club. All I've got to say to those people is this....do you honestly think that these people have any say in your acceptance to these colleges or in the interview process? Because while you are having your interview, these people are traveling around America, having to put up with other smucks like you, and are quite unable to "have a say" about who you are and that you'd be "a perfect addition to (college name)'s environment."

    Getting back on track, the night actually went really well. Each college gave a little presentation of their school, showed some pictures, and gave us the whole spiel about "why we should go to their school". At the end of the night, I had decided that I'd like to take a closer look at Brown University and Rice. Don't take me as hating the other schools ('cause they are excellent with both academic excellence and research opportunities), but Brown and Rice seem to fit me better as a person and with my academic dreams. I think with whatever college I end up going to, I'm always going to be the nerdy, slighty hyper and dramatic person I've always been, which, depending on which of my friends you talk to, is a good thing, I think.

    My advice to anyone who's going to be meeting a representative from a college, be yourself. Don't be a suck-up and a brown-noser by pulling out a list of the top 100 best things you've done in high school or saying that you've always dreamed about going to that school (which you say to every college you come across), but rather talk to them about what you're interested in and what you're looking for. If they don't like what they see, they can just deal, 'cause you going where you're most comfortable and where you going to do your best is so much more important.

In Memory

2005-09-20T01:41:57Z

Today is Sept. 11th. A day that none of us will ever forget. All of us will be telling this to our children: where we were, what we thought, what we did. In memory of this day, I'm going to share an excerpt from a descriptive essay I wrote for my english class. It describes the emotions that I would have if I lost my family. A little extreme, but I had to choose something that would help me really describe how I felt. I'm sharing with you the last passage of this piece, which is when I'm alone, just sort of reflecting on what had happened.

            "Evening started with the ocean blue sky melting into a dazzling, radiant array of pumpkin orange, peony red, and golden yellow. The welcoming wind slowly blew across the shady background. The grass swayed back and forth to an unheard song that sailed and floated on the wind that made everything dance. My dark auburn hair was tasseled gently as the gliding breeze moved past my outstretched body. I gazed languidly up at the ever-moving sky of hues with clouds swirling and twirling around each other, dancing to the song of nature.

            Gradually, harsh words and cheerless thoughts consumed my mind that was blissfully wrapped in colors of its own. Why did they have to die? A tear quietly slid down my once-flushed cheek. Why couldn't they have gone another? Another tear. Why did You allow this to happen? Two more rolled down. WHY!! A trickling stream issued from my already red eyes, knowing if I didn't stop, a torrential river would ensue. I pulled them back with all my remaining strength, but not even the little bit I had could stop this. I vigorously rubbed my eyes, wishing none of this had happened. I drew myself up and hugged my trembling knees.

            Slowly, a gentle, miniscule particle of air floated past and tickled my ear. Another one came, slightly bigger than the last, making my hair shift from side to side. Gradually, one by one, they came together to form a peaceful, inviting breeze that wiped away all my tears. As I drank in the welcoming light wind, peace slowly and quietly filled my lungs, my empty body, and my troubled mine. Then, out of nowhere, a voice called my name, a voice that was ageless, filled with wisdom, kindness, and understanding. "Choice, my child," whispered the voice, seeming like a gentle summer wind. "That is why they are gone. I gave man choice, and with choice comes responsibility. With choice comes also consequences, consequences few people want to deal with, even those not directly involved." The gentle wind extended its reach to where I felt something like a father giving his child a hug; pure, light, innocent.

             " I was with you when you found out it was a fatal accident. I was with you in the waiting room when you received the new that that they had passed away. I was even with you when you screamed out of anguish at the funeral when you thought everyone was gone." The warm breeze brushed tenderly against my tear-stained cheek, like the touch of a dove's wing. "

            Your family is with Me in a place where they will never feel any pain, a place where they can be truly happy for all eternity, a place where they can finally be free." The gentle wind swept passed me in a sudden burst of speed and power. It then swirled around me, sweeping my dark auburn hair into the air, making me truly laugh for the first time in several weeks. "I love you, precious one. I will always love you. Painful things will happen, painful both physically and emotionally, but I will always be with you. don't ever doubt that. I am you Father, and I love you oh so very much, and I always will."

            The summer breeze gave me one last gentle kiss on my now rosy and smooth cheek. Then it sailed away, making everyting dance to the music it had created. I smiled a true smile, one of pure happiness, for I knew the words spoken were true. The peace had remained with me, stronger that ever before. I sighed, not a sigh of mourning or grief, but of pure contentment and bliss, for I knew my Father would always be with me."

    *~In memory of those who have gone into the peace of eternity. We will never forget you.~*

    *~In hope for those who live each day with grief and sorrow on their hearts and still continue to go one. We pray each day for you; that you find strength and hope and courage in the promise of the eternal reunion with loved ones. May God protect you and bless you.~*

Friday means first home game....'nuff said

2005-09-20T01:36:59Z

    Well, it's the end of the week, and that means we finally get to sleep in the mornings. Ah, what bliss....to be able to sleep until 11 in the morning.

    But, of course, one first has to make it through the friday night football game. This is usually not a problem, 'cause most of the time it's an away game and it might be the third of fourth home game of the season, but not tonight. Nope, tonight is the first football game of the season, which means this is the first time the band has played in front of the home audience....never a good thing.

    Also, the football players are going to be trying to show off for their "fans" in the crowd, which means that they'll be jerk-like and stupid more than usual. Great...that's the last thing I need before I perform....a bunch of jocks flexing their "muscles" and trying to get the crowd "pumped up" for the touchdown they might score before the last buzzer. Besides that, as painful as it's going to be, it won't be a bad night tonight. We'll get through the show (hopefully without to much incident) and I'll be able to get my friday night treat that makes everything worth while .......a frito pie. Hey, what can I say....I'm a girl of simple pleasures. ;)

Another day, Another random phone

2005-09-01T21:23:24Z

      You'd think that people would look at the number they are calling before they call, but they don't. They just assume that they are calling their Aunt Marge that lives in Tuscon but end up calling Chin Wong, a restaurant owner that works in China Town. Sadly, last night I had one of those incompetent persons (and hopefully not a stupid prank caller) give me a visit.

     Last night, I was, of course, asleep, as I'm sure most of you were, when in my dream I heard this strange ringing and this vibrating sound, like something vibrating on wood. When I woke up, lo and behold, my phone was ringing and was vibrating like crazy on top of my dresser. Since I was still pretty much asleep and not coherent enough to get mad, I walked over to my cell and was about to answer it when it just suddenly stopped ringing and vibrating like nobody's business. I was starting to wake up by now (which meant I was coherent enough to get ticked), so I opened my phone and checked "Missed Calls". And to my "surprise", it was a number that I'd never seen before (figures) and didn't even think it was in this area code. Though I was awake and it was ONLY 1 am (grrr), I was still way into dreamland, so grumbling and fuming, I crawl back into bed saying that I'd figure this out tomorrow.

     When I came home from school today, I went on google and typed in the number. Some use that did, 'cause I didn't figure out who it was, but I did find out that whoever called me bought a prepaid calling card in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania....woohoo....; ). All well, I'll probably just forgive and forget this whole incident like most random things that happen to me.....as long as this person doesn't call me back and think they're going to get a very "happy" person on the other line 'cause I will give it to them, up one side and down the other 'cause I am not a happy person when woken up by something besides my alarm clock (people who have roomed with me can give you even more facts about me and my "I'm grouchy when just woken up" problem). If this person is a prank caller....oh are they going to get it....hee hee hee.......; )

First Entry....whoa.....

2005-08-29T21:50:06Z

Well, this is my first blog entry ever!! Kind of weird, actually. For the longest time, I made fun of people who had blogs and online journals because I thought it's kind of a pointless journal if anybody can read it. But here I am, giving a good fifteen minutes to writing something I've so far avoided. Isn't irony.....funny? With this blog, I hope to be able to just type my feelings on issues, things at school, or whatever random things pop out of my head...and I'll go ahead and apologize for them.

Well, school has started once again, but this year is my junior year. I think it's actually going to be a good year. I mean, I'm finally an upperclassman, which is weird in itself, and I also get to have some challenging classes, which I'm actually excited to take (I know, I'm a nerd....DEAL!!).

Hopefully I'll be able to keep up with this blog almost daily. If I don't, get on me and make me do it!! I'll keep everyone posted about what's going on in my life. Like the name of page says; this is my glass room, my personal Fortress of Solitude where I can speak my mind, heart, and soul about things I care about. My glass room, where words and thoughts echo for ages without hindrance or distortion. A little poetic, I know, but I'm one always for lavish details.