solitude for a month?

Would you enjoy spending a month of solitude in a beautiful natural setting? Food and shelter would be provided but you would not see another person.

I went to a camp the past few summers called Young Life. For those of you who haven't heard of this camp, its a Christian camp in the middle of a forest. Cell phones don't work and there is a lax schedual.
Once the week of camp is over you feel so rested and happy. Everyone is easy to get along with and wanted to have fun, but the moment you get on the bus to head home, and cell phones are given back out "life" goes back to normal. but for one week, everyone had no worries, no phones no schedual, a relaxed week.
I would want to write about my life before during and after going into solitude for a month. Unwind, pray, read, and see how it changes me as a person.

What gets you thinking...

What to write about, well there are many things, and many ideas that one could blog about. The only idea coming to mind is what gets your mind thinking? We're all different, and work differently. I know on a general scale people are visual learners or audio learners, among other things. But what gets you to think? I know I learn well visually and with some audio, but I know that music, lyrical or instrumental, gets me to think. Sports as well. Learning is important, but so is how we think, and sometimes people miss that point. Learning is all fine and dandy, but if you can't think about it then what good is it to you and the world? Not a lot that's for sure. And, not only what gets you to think, but how do you get your thoughts out? I know for many of us it's writing, but for others it's music, some dance. We all have different ideas, and different ways to get them out.

idea for blog

Through out the decades, times have changed and many aspects of society have evolved. In particular, would be technology, which in my opinion is something that always changes to get better, faster, and smaller. Let's just think about computers. Fifteen to twenty years ago computers were the size of entire rooms and usually solely for government use. Then personal home computers were made and now you can get a laptop for a couple hundred dollars with much more memory and other capabilities that would cost thousands in the past. As well, you would have never imagined being able to set a computer on your lap to type this blog because the computers were gigantic! Having said all this, an idea for a blog could be to pick a decade, preferably atleast fifteen years or more from now and list all the gadgets and items we take for granted today that have recently been created. Furthermore, to prioritize these items saying which new technologies we would miss the most and why. Another example, for such a blog would be a microwave. This item was laughed at when my great grandmother wanted to buy a microwave oven because every one told her it was a waste of money and completely useless. Now, microwaves are used all the time to heat up foods, hot drinks, or even prepare complete meals.

Influence

When I first read the blog assignment, I had no ideas whatsoever. I thought "maybe I could do something with music," but then I realized that our next blog was about music. So I started trying to come up with something that everyone could write about. A subject that everyone could relate to. And my thought was that everyone knows a person that's had a life-changing impact on them. A person that has forever altered the way they look at this world.

My assignment is this: Name one person who has had a significant influence on your life, and explain why.
This someone could be a parent, a friend, a love interest, a musician - even someone whose name you'll never know. As long as you can say that they've made some sort of change to the way you view life - one way or another- you can write about them.

Create your own Adventure

For a longtime I was under the impression that this blog wanted us to individually make our own adventure, with a mini storyline and potentially fatal choices, etc. After lookign over the blog, I found that was not actually the assignment. I thin one of our blogs should be a real "MAke-Your Own adventure with each student creating a mini make your own adventure. It could look something like the example below:
1
While searching behind your mother's bed, you finds a secret trap door - should you go through it (go to number five) or should you keep looking for Christmas presents (go to number two)
2
You finds no presents and go to bed early - The End
3
You travel down a musty passage and find another door. You hear muffled moaning. Should you turn around and keep looking for hidden Christmas presents (go to number 2) or continue through the door (go to number four)
4
You open the door to find a boy huddled in the corner. He has no eyes because he never sees daylight and they did not develop. You don;t know if he is dangerous. Should you talk to him (go to number 5) or attack him (go to number 6)
5
He asks you if you are bringing his food. You say no, and then ask who he is. He says he recognizes your voice as the voice of his brother. You realize this is the ugly brother that the family never speaks of. He is locked away. Should you attack him because he is ugly and unwanted ( go to number 6), tell your parents of your find (go to number 7), or sneak him out of the house (go to number 8)
6
You swimg at him, but he is faster and he manages to get his thumb in your eye. Bleeding and blind you swing madly, but to no avail. Eventually you tire, and bleed to death on the cold floor. The End
7
You approach your father meekly, scared he will punish you. Papa, you say, I found my brother. Craziness comes into his eyes and he throws you into the small room with your blind brother. You are forced to eat each other for food. The End
8
You manage to guide the blind boy to the foot of the stairs before you hear the rapid steps of Papa. Should you return the boy to his room, and return to present-searching like it never happened (go to number 2), or fight your father (go to number 6)

This would be both fun for the authors ( us) and the people who read them. Plus it would be an exercise in the use of second person, someone we don't use often.

Decisions

Everyone's done something in their life that they regret. Despite how those optimists tell you that they don't regret anything they've done- and that you shouldn't either- they actually do. They might be able to push that feeling deep down inside them, but they still feel it. Regret is part of being human. And because all who read this are human, we all regret. There's something we all wish we hadn't done. Something we might wish we could change. And so I ask you what it was.

What's the one decision you've made that you regret the most? How big of an impact did it have on your life? And if you were able to go back right now and redo that moment, would you change anything? If you did, would your life be different today? Take some time and let the memories come back :).

Create a word

I'm usually terrible at finding the right word for an essay, or I think too long about a particular word that escapes me. I wish that you could just make up nonsense and have it make complete sense to the reader. So my question: If you could create any word what would it be?

My word: asdlotkjaw (aw-duh-lot-kuh-jaw)

Definition:

1. As a noun it means a giant building that was set on fire.
Ex: Did you see that asdlotkjaw yesterday? It burned so fast that the firefighters couldn't save it.

2. As an adjective it describes someone or something who makes no sense.
Ex: If the reader knows what you mean, why would you need definitions? You're so asdlotkjaw that no one cares what you say.

3. As a verb it means to kick someone's pocket full of tater tots.
Ex: "Gross! Why would you asdlotkjaw me? Now my tots are disgusting."

As you can see, you can use this word in all sorts of situations, it is the perfect word.

Ummm...

Well...
Whip out your iPods and lets have some fun. Go down and click on shuffle songs and write down the next ten that show up on your display...and no don't skip the ones you don't like or are embarrassed by. Think about each song and figure out the significance of why that song is on your iPod, like why you chose to download that song illegally off limewire and put it on iTunes. Do that for all 10 songs, and then at the end figure out who this playlist would be for. Would it be for your brother or friend, or would it be for Andrew cause its completely random.

I thank you Mr. Logsdon for giving us the space exploration prompt as that has been used as my inspiration for this post.

Assignment: So, you've discovered a planet out in the middle of nowhere in the giant expanse of the universe. Tell me, what’s it like?

Are there people? Humanoids? Or do creatures of other fantastical design rule? Describe the natives and their way of life, including foods, dress, family life, etc. How do they travel? What do they do for fun? Do they even breathe oxygen?
The type of life depends very much so on the landscape and climate of your planet. Do lush forests grace the land like on Pandora (AVATAR) or does one humongous city leave no trace of vegetation like Coruscant (STAR WARS)? Is it hot or cold? Perhaps your planet has a different climate everywhere you go.
It’s all up to you. You design the new world. Though this post may require more than the bear minimum of 150 words, it’d be fun to see what people think up.

Are They Accountable?

With all of the recent controversy over the Tiger Woods scandal, the issue has been raised as to whether professional athletes in the public eye are held to ethical standards. Sure everyone was shocked by Tiger Woods' behavior, but was it just because we didn't expect it from him? Plenty of professional athletes grace a Wheaties box in the morning and party hard at night. We don't pay them to be faithful to their wives and girlfriends; their fame and riches comes from their talent, combined occasionally with their looks. Or do they have the responsibility to be responsible, simply because kids look up to them? Does being rich and famous mandate good behavior, even though temptation lurks at every corner? It would be interesting to see how many people think celebrity athletes have a responsibility to behave. Personally, I admire athletes for what they do on the court or the field. What they do when they get home is their business, and it doesn't diminish their talent. Who gets their morals from Tiger Woods anyway?

Need an idea?

Have you ever thought about why things are the way they are? Why can we only move forward in time, rather than backward? Why are humans dependent on other objects to fly? A number of questions of this sort could be asked. And, truth be told, these questions all have scientific answers. However, that doesn't mean we can't use our imaginations - we did so all the time when we were little. Can you imagine living in another world - a world completely backwards to ours? Now, this brings me to the actual topic of my assignment idea. How would you re-create the world? Would you keep everything virtually the same as it is now, with just a few differences, or would you totally re-vamp our way of life? Don't worry about the boundaries that earth puts on us, just use your imagination. Pretend like you're making a movie or writing a story in which anything is possible.

Nobody will like this one

Although I don’t think many people would like this idea, I think that we should write about what is wrong with our government. I always hear a lot of people complaining about it all, me included, and I think most people have a lot to say. It shouldn’t be a scathing, dry criticism though. At some point it should offer up some way to fix, decrease the problems. I think everyone who reads them will gain some outstanding insight and walk away from the computer afterward thinking. The blog shouldn’t be busy work that everyone does Sunday night in 10 minutes, but a mixing pot of knowledge and flavor. Add 5 cups of Liberalism, a quart of conservatism, and maybe a pinch of Socialism, and bam! We got a nice tasty blog to enjoy for once.

You're Own Adventure...

When I was ten my dad told me the story of a poor northwoods girl he knew in grade school (back in the fifties) who everyone teased so bad for not having enough money or clean clothes or good looks that she dropped out of school and no one ever heard from her again. It was in an attempt to get me to be nicer to this boy I'd been complaining about in my art class. But he told the story with so much regret and real sadness that I took the phonebook and ran to my room and looked for her name over and over again while crying my eyes out. I have no idea why I thought fifty-five years would bring her from The-Middle-of-Nowhere, U.P. to Lexington, but I was heartbroken to not find Florence Lapatchen anywhere in town. But anyways, five years later I threw her name out while talking to my dad in a normal conversation and he was STUNNED. He turned and looked right at me, and asked me quietly "how I knew about that". And I think that's the only time I've ever done anything that's really surprised somebody.
Anyways, my question is what's something you've done to honestly, completely shock somebody? This might not be the most straightforward or creative prompt, but I think it'll bring up some interesting stories.

Choices

If you were able to choose three things that you will automatically do/accomplish in life, what would they be?
Answer this question fully before moving on.



Now that you've named these three things...
Would you be willing to give up one of them to live twenty years of your life (you choose which ones) pain free? Why or Why not?
Would you be willing to give up two of them to be able to live forever? Why or why not?
Would you be willing to give up all three up them to be able to choose exactly what happens in your life? (You can do anything but the three things you listed earlier.) Why or why not?

Classics Revisited

So, having just finished watching Tin Man (a fabulous little miniseries loosely based on The Wizard of Oz, for those of you unacquainted with it; definitely worth a watch if you have the time), my mind is buzzing a bit with the possibilities of sci-fi remakes. Thus, my suggestion is this: Create a plot summary of a story recreating in modern format (or in a different genre altogether) a classic story of your choosing.

For instance, to save you the trouble of looking up the plot of Tin Man, let me describe it for you. DG (a twist on the age-old Dorothy Gale, whose name actually makes an appearance) doesn't feel like she fits into her dreary Kansan lifestyle - but all this changes when a powerful storm transports her into the O.Z. - the Outer Zone, a realm rife with magic, and sprinkled with evil. I won't tell you much more, but the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion, Toto, the Wizard, and the Wicked Witch all have corresponding roles.

In a nutshell, get in mind a classic tale you enjoy, and recreate it either for a more modern stage or within another genre entirely.

A Moment in Someone Else's Shoes

I can safely assume that all of us have seen (and liked) a movie and fallen in some kind of love with a character. Heck, why stop at movies, I know all of us have watched at least some TV and liked a character from a TV show.

Maybe you were enchanted by Jack Sparrow's drunken charm or intrigued by Gollum's obsession with the "One Ring to rule them all." Perhaps you were amused by Dr. House's antics or Stewie Griffin's flamboyant personality. There are so many different characters you've seen, and so many of them have captured your attention.

Have you ever wondered what it was like to be one of them? Sure you have; don't even try to deny it. So here's your chance to let your imagination run a little wild. Pick one of your favorite characters from any movie or TV show and write a diary or journal entry in their point of view. Maybe just a thought the character was having.

You could write as Dexter Morgan, contemplating over his latest victim, or take a walk through the streets of Nazi-occupied France as Lieutenant Aldo Raine. Your choice--you're the character, after all.

Be a lexicographer/entymologist/linguist

English class this year focuses on writing, and all of the subtleties that go along with it. One major part of writing is diction. We say all the time in Timed Writing Congress that this essay has effective diction, or this one has poor word choice, and it factors a lot into how we score the essay. But we all use words everyday, when we talk to each other, write, or even think to ourselves. Words express how we really feel, and can be full of beauty or pain; they conjure up vivid imagery in our mind’s eye. What is your favorite word (or words, if you really can’t choose just one)? What is the worst word ever, in your opinion?

In case you are curious, I hate “colonel” because it looks totally different from how it should be pronounce (KERNEL). It drives me crazy every time I come across it.

Where would you go?

Coming up with a topic for this blog was difficult for me. Keeping in mind that we could possibly be responding to the topic I came up with I tried to get my creative juices flowing. That kind of failed. But I finally came up with an idea: If you could go anywhere in the world at any point in time, where would you go and why? I've thought about how I would answer this question and I came up with a few possibilities, but narrowing it down to one would be pretty hard. I think this question will stir up some interesting responses. We all have so many different interests that I think each response would be very unique and reflect something about each of us that not everyone necessarily knows.

My Own Blog

Why is Eminem so awesome? It's a question that plagues us all, but one that almost nobody can answer. So for this weeks blog i want you to discuss why in your in own eyes Eminem is the best rapper and for that matter the best recording artist of all time. Ask no questions and just do it okay... or i will find you and make you do it!

What to write about..

Upon being assigned blogs and hearing what I am supposed to write about, I'm usually less than excited. (No offense Mr. Logsdon) And I really wanted to come up with a blog that everyone would be totally stoked to write about and as soon as it was assigned- rush home and come up with much more than 150 words to fufill the question in it's entirety. Alas, I didn't come up with anything very exciting.. But here it goes.. Write about the day you die. We always seem to write about our future and what we plan on doing, but never actually discuss the day we leave this earth. So, write about the day you died- from the second you woke up to the very second that you were pronounced dead. Include as many details as you would like, or as few- you can die peacefully in your bed- or in the Apocalypse- or a freak accident- just as long as you actually die.. Okay, not exactly uplifting, but it's an interesting concept.

i choose you, pikachu.

"Gotta catch 'em all!" Who can forget that iconic quote? Ash Ketchem (get it??) was a man for the ages. Along with his trusty sidekick, the always cute pikachu, Ash lead us all through crazy-cool adventures on his way to catching all 151 pokemon and becoming a pokemon master. His truimphs over the evil and really dumb team rocket were legendary. When the pokemon games came out on gameboy, I nearly peed my pants I was so excited. The imagination of an entire generation was captured by these cute and cuddly creatures. Who needed real friends when you had pokemon like pikachu, charmander, bulbasaur, and squirtle? You just can't go wrong with something as cool as pokemon. So here is my assignment: Which pokemon is your favorite, and why? Feel free to mention any unforgettable moments with your companions, and play-by-play accounts of epic battles with that annoying bastard Gary are, of course, welcome.

In A Post-Apocalyptic Nightmare

At a family dinner a few days ago, my dad began a rant about everything the father in The Road did wrong, which was, apparently, everything. He completely lacked survival skills and common sense.
This led to the question: If you were living in a post-apocalyptic nightmare-world, which 5 people (outside of your immediate family- assume that they somehow all survived as well) would you want with you?

1) Dumbledore: for protection, spirit, and general awesomeness. He is the most wise, clever, eccentric wizard; his mere presense would probably ward of most of the bad guys. If any cannibals showed up? No big deal- he would just turn them into crows or sparkles, or confund them. Plus, it would mean proof that there was magic.

2)A thirty-year-old version of my Uncle Buck: my father's cousin, a logger/carpenter/handyman in the northwoods of Wisconsin. He could help with anything: building our house, fishing and farming, plumbing, and by providing spirited entertainment from the tunes of his harmonica.

3)John F. Kennedy: for outstanding leadership and motivation. It is, indeed, a close call between JFK and John Aroutiounian.

4) Mr. Pope.

5)Squanto: for knowing the land and the ways of the natural world.

soooo...2010.

Alright, well I guess I've already failed on my first goal, which is not to procrastinate. Oh well, I think I'll have plenty of other opportunities to do blogs on time. Another goal that I have for 2010 is to get big. The pipes needs some work, so im going to put some extra time into that. I think another thing that I really want to do before the end of this year is write a song. It just seems like the thing to do, you know? I'm sure I'll have tons of fun doing writing it, even if I have no musical talent whatsoever. One thing that I really have to keep in sight all throughout 2010 is to have fun. That's probably the biggest goal for this year: to have a great time, no matter what I decide to do. I know that's really broad, but I kind of need it to be; there are a bunch of really great things to do out there and I'm not going spend my time listing them all.

Okay it took me so long to figure out what we were actually supposed to do for this. xD
Okay so I'm gonna put this as the prompt: 
Throughtout your life, what has been the single most daring thing that you've ever done and gotten away with?
This could be something like, oh, i don't know, turning an assignment in late and getting full credit, or something stupid like farting right next to me in APUSH and not getting yelled at for it. (btw, I know it's you. PLEASE STOP. IT MAKES ME WANT TO THROW UP. IT IS TRULY RANCID. IT BURNS THE BACK OF MY THROAT.) or it could even be something as fun as sneaking out, going to your girlfriends house, staying until 6 in the morning, bike back the hour long trip in the rain only to have your tire pop halfway, get home around 7:30 and get into through basement door at the same time as your dad walks out the upstairs door to go to work. And not get caught. (+45 pts.)

OR

We could do the funniest thing story that you have of trying to get away with some thing and getting caught. 
Like stealing Joe Whalens shoes, wearing them the next day to school, having him take them back, and then having to walk home in the pouring rain in your socks. (-100 pts.)  

Listen well my friend for this is what you must do

Hmm, all of these posts seem to incorporate music into them, so I have decided to stick to the bandwagon on this one. Write about the most interesting experience in your high school career. Write about its effect on your way of life and thinking. If there was no effect at all, simply reflect on the thoughts that you had during the time of the event. In addition if you can, as if this moment of your life was a movie scene, think of a soundtrack to add to this interesting moment. Explain why you have chosen these songs and what meaning these songs are supposed to be portraying.

Adventure Creation

Choose anything in the world. Any object. Any person. Any thing. Write a story told from the perspective of this thing. Make sure to give thoughts and feelings that you would traditionally not expect from this object. You could write an angry monologue from a soccer ball who is tired of being kicked around or a tooth describing life from an oral perspective. Other ideas include telling about being the Grand Canyon, a bowling ball, Obama's necktie, a punching bag, the Statue of Liberty, a cd in a cd player, the Mona Lisa, Hitler's mustache, or a thunder storm cloud. Regardless of what is chosen, you need to put thoughts, feelings and emotions into this object that are traditionally not thought about. These objects must be talked about in a first person approach so that the audience is able to see the world from the viewpoint of this object.

Matthew R. Powell "Chooses His Own Adventure"

Turn to page 39 to see what happens when Jimmy walks down the corridor.

Turn to page 54 to see what Matthew Powell would like to be asked to write about for his blog.

Of course you turned to page 54. I can't say i'm surprised. we all know jimmy's gonna die in the end anyway. did you really wanna read this whole book only to find that the character you'd built a strong emotional attachment with dies at the end? no. you didn't. so what do i want to write about for a blog? idk dude. maybe an easy question. "what are you listening to as you write this?" i'd answer "jack johnson" because his low fi hawaiian melodies create great background music. but i have to write 150 words, so such a simple question won't fly. i'd like to b asked "what's your craziest dentistry experience?", but that's more so i could just read andrew's response than anything else. i need something intellectually stimulating, something that will test my critical thinking skills and creativity. i'd want to be asked: "if you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?" this question would really get people thinking about the consequences of one's actions and what to consider in the future. there's some deep thinking for you

Goals Goals Goals...

Ah, new years resolutions, a time to say that we'll do even more things and not do them. I'm not a huge fan of this superficial practice, but I do set many goals. I try keeping most of my goals broad and general, so I don't overwhelm myself with all the different tasks I'd wish to complete. Mostly, though, they have something to do with getting better. I want to get better at football, better at percussion, and keep my grades high. Though I guess when I get more specific about it, this year I'm trying to get back above the 200 pound mark, and increase all of my lifting maxes. Academically I'm hoping I make it into GSP, but that goal passed a while back, now all I can do is wait. I've still got some planning to do, and more goals to set, but I'm going to wait a little later than New Years to see how this year begins, and how I want it to end.

so can this new blog post be less than 150 words?

This is so late but I'm posting anyway :). 2010

This year is going to be great. I'm determined. I want so much from life and I think this year can help me to accomplish everything. One of my goals is to be more proactive. I want to be on top of things for once. Up until this blog, I was doing pretty good. But I'm not going to let this happen again! I would drone on some more about grades and school, but I think that everything else pretty well falls under the proactive-ness. Another goal is to treat myself better. I want to eat better, workout, and not beat myself up about the little things. I mean, why should I waste my life away fretting about something that I won't even remember next year? I shouldn't. And I'm not going to anymore. I feel like I'm kinda droning, so I'll just include on last point. I want to get a job. Preferably for the summer as I'm busy right now, but I want one despite the time.

First post--woot woot!

1. Think about your favorite movie moment. The exciting plotline, the poignant emotion, and the moving characters. It's likely that what really makes this moment so amazing is something you may not even notice. A kick-ass song! We all have those times in our lives, those moments. Think of an exciting, important, or emotional moment in your life, and pick a song which perfectly encapsulates the moment.

RE: Above post: Actually, you're technically second.

Granted, this isn't my actual entry for this blog, but the opportunity was too golden to pass up.

2010...Oh boy

Although I look forward to the start of new years, nothing new ever seems to come out of them. One school year draws to a close, the "carefree" days of summer grace us with their sweltering presence, leave again before we want them to, and we find ourselves back at a desk in the fall. It's a seemingly unending cycle. Most of the time I don't have just that...time. To look any further than the day is almost suicidal. To make goals beyond finishing my homework for the night is difficult. But I'm gonna change that.

I have the usual goals that, like many have mentioned already, deal with school, the upcoming AP tests and our final years at Henry Clay- passing grades, 4s and 5s, searching for and deciding on a college, etc. Then come the athletic goals- continue to play and work hard (even if making Varsity remains out of reach) or remain JV team captain as my career at HC draws to a close. But the most important goal, and most difficult to accomplish, is to find a balance in my life, one that finds time for friends, family, fun, school, and sports all at the same time. There's just one tiny problem...am I lazy when it comes to fulfilling resolutions? Yes. I can flat out say, yes I can be. However...this year I hope to get my act together. :)

Assignment: Create your own adventure

For this next blog, I want you to tell me what you'd like to write about. So in the immortal words of Pat Benatar, "hit me with your best shot."

The Year Ahead

It's a new year, and some things are definitely changing. However, in 2010 my focus on schoolwork won't be on the list of changes. I'm going to strive to complete my Junior year with all A's and get at least fours on all my AP tests. It's not going to be easy, but I think I can handle it.

I also have to think about college. I'm going on some college visits over spring break and hopefully I'll be selected to attend the Governor's Scholars Program over the summer. My goal is to decide which career field I like the best, and from there I hope to find a few colleges that I'd be interested in attending.

Paintball is another area in which I'm making plans to progress. My old team has ceased to exist, but I'm still trying to get better at the game by getting out to practice whenever I have the opportunity. Being completely realistic, I don't think I have the time to dedicate to a team between schoolwork, clubs, and possibly a band.

As many of you know, I've been dealing with a lot in my personal life. I'm still not done with my grieving and I don't know when I will be. I'm happy that I can at least say I've made it far enough to see that there's light at the end of this tunnel. I know that I'll be happy again, so another one of my goals is to make it through this in it's entirety. I certainly hope this process doesn't take the whole year to see through, but I want to be completely happy with where I am in life.

2010 goals

Junior year, being a very academically important year, I like many others, hope to really make better grades. Last year, I procrastinated and didn't put in as much effort that I am capable of. Having said this, hopefully this year I can make up for last year and really achieve the grades I would like to. Furthermore, I would like to self motivate myself to help more around the house with out being asked. This would make our whole family and home environment a lot less tense and probably reduce the amount of arguing over seemingly small issues. This year, I also hope to spend more time with my sister and family instead of just being with my friends every spare moment. Over all, I just want to strengthen the import relationships in my life and prioritize. Meaning, stop getting upset over small things and take myself out of dramatic situations so that I can have a fun non dramatic year. Hopefully, this would end some of the pointless drama that occurs in high school, and instead I can really focus on the important aspects of life!

2010!!!

I have high hopes for 2010, most of which are school and swimming related. let's start with school. I want to get a B in APUSH, and at least a 4 on the exam to raise my grades for both semesters. Chemistry is a fun class for me and i may major in it so i'm going to get a 5 on the chemistry exam. English will be a hard final for me but i feel confident i will be able to push and get a 4. Im going to decide on which college i want to go to and do better than my sister on the SAT or ACT for two reasons. One she did very well on them both, and two for bragging rights.

On to swimming. I am going to go to finals in high school and USA swimming in the 100 and 200 backstroke. 2010 will be the first year i get my two sectional cuts! For those of you who don't know, sectional cuts are times you have to go in certain events in order to go to the "sectional" meet. Finally, im going to find the will power to get out of bed and make at least 2 out of 3 morning swim practice when we have them.

2010 sounds like 2009

Every year, I'm asked from somebody what my goals are. Year after year, they seem the same. Get good grades, play well in basketball and still have fun. And again, I set these same goals but with a little higher expectations. Last year I was able to improve my grade point average, and I hope to the same this semester. I'm beginning to figure out how school goes. How I can maximize my time is was a goal my freshmen year, and it's only until now that I'm beginning to get it right. It's what's allowed my grades to improve. Then there is basketball, considerable the other half of my life. Not only do I hope to play well, but now that my role on the team is so much more important, I feel like my goal is instead to carry the team through district and onto the region and hopefully the sweet 16.
But as my junior comes to an end, my focus on both basketball and school have increased. College is scary! and the closer and I get, the more I hear about it, it makes me scared, and angry that I didn't push myself harder earlier in high school. But I'm doing what I can now to make up for what I did earlier.
It's not any new goals that I've set for myself in 2010, its just the focus and drive to achieve them has changed.

Hmmmm...

Well...
The holidays have passed and new calenders have been brought out; its a new year and a clean slate. This next year I need to make the best of. I need to continue academic success and strive to get all A's this semester. I need to read every chapter of every assignment that is asked of me and not just go home after workouts and sleep. I want to study for every test and not just wing it. I must take my AP classes very seriously and strive for fives on APUSH, AP English, and AP Chem. I want to do all homework prior to entering school, not on the bus, not in the library. I need to pay attention in class and not miss information because of talking to Andrew. This semester is critical for my college future, and I need to try my hardest here at school and on upcoming ACT and SAT tests.

Athletically, I need to have a breakthrough year. In the midst of a coaching change, tryouts this year matter...alot. I need to be impressive so I can secure a starting spot this year on Varsity. With the chance of starting this year, I must take full advantage to showcase my game. I want to make an All-City team, and help our team get to regionals and hopefully win. I want to receive more college letters for baseball, and attend showcases...and impress.

This year could be big...I must make the most of it.

My 2010

I think we did a blog really similar to this at the beginning of the school year, about what we wanted to do and accomplish during our junior year. I went back and read mine a while ago, and I realized I didn't like what I said. I mean, of coarse I want to get good test scores and grades and think about my future, but really, is that it? So I thought about how I should've answered that question. And I didn't have an answer.
I kind of like not having an answer. I know, I guess, that I can improve and study and work harder, but I like having some ideas that aren't so cookie-cutter-precise that I know how to sum them up in a two-hundred word English blog, or however long these are supposed to be.
Sometimes in the middle of the night, after everyone else in my family has gone to bed, I'll walk outside and stand in my bare feet on the grass and try to think of something important- how far away the moon is or how the ground feels under my feet or some happy memory I have guarded in my head. I hope this year I can do more things like that. I hope I can have those spontaneous moments of thought and insight, and be able to remember what should be important.
Getting good grades and test scores would be nice, too.

I think that my biggest problem is that I'm too passive. I let things fly by, and I care, but I never do anything about it. I feel like I'm letting life slip away, rather than hitting me straight in the face. Ok, bad analogy, but I think it gets my point across. Hopefully I can take advantage of my time this year, and spend it doing something, rather than thinking about doing it.

So other goals:

Find a college - I haven't even considered where I'm going to college. College applications are coming up, and I hope that I won't have to do an excess amount of them because I don't have any favorite schools.

School - Doing well on AP tests/ standardized testing. Get good grades. Take the time in school seriously, rather than wasting time watching the clock until the bell rings.

Reach goals - I've made these goals before, but I never follow-through on them, but I'm making 2010 my year.

2010 for Beth

Being a Junior is stressful.
Every day is the same. I wake up, get ready for school, leave the house at 7:40. Run through all of my classes. Stay after school until four-ish, to go home and work on homework until around 9:30. Bed by around eleven. In spare time, I usually worry about my future test scores, or my upcoming calculus test, or Greg.
By the end of the year, I would like to institute a few changes.
I would like to have all of my college applications done. I have been worried about these since I watched The Perfect Score, and got a true look at how painful, rigorous, and frightening college applications could be.
I would like to have a better idea of where I wanted to go to college. This is directly related to me having a better idea of what I wanted to do with my life- something I also home to work on in 2010.
Looking at this list, I realize that they seem almost painfully predictable. I haven't read anyone else's post, but I am willing to bet that at least a couple people have said the same thing. So, something more creative, maybe?
I really want to be able to run three miles in a row, make my way through Religions of Man, and be able to touch my toes to the back of my head in that yoga position, the seal; make scrambled eggs without burning the butter in the pan; babysit the kids down the street without coming home in tears; be nicer to Amy; wake up on time to go to school, so my dad won't have to get mad at me every morning; learn to make coffee, and while i'm at it, start to drink coffee; learn to appreciate more of my family's Home in Wisconsin, and learn the land, and the tree plantations, and learn what exactly i'm supposed to do when I no longer have my parents around to show me that this way is the best way.
Maybe I can't do all of this in one year. I'll start with the egg scrambling.

2010 Vision

Im usually not one for New Years Resolutions, but 2010 is going to be an important year. Maybe I can come up with at least a few. Just think, by the end of the year, we are all going to be done or mostly done applying to colleges (!!!). We will be basically done with high school (because really, who's not going to get senioritis second semester?). Those are some pretty important benchmarks. It's going to be an interesting year.
Hopefully in the new year I will get my full license and be a good driver. I need to learn to parallel park and pay more attention when I drive. I can get too comfortable and occasionally space out.
I also hope to become more independent. Once I get to college, I want to know how to cook, and manage my time, and be able to do my own laundry. I dont want to be thrust into the world on my own, with little idea of how to provide myself with basic necessities.
I want to be a more decisive person. Right now I'm passive, and often have trouble deciding about things that don't even matter. Of course, I want to think through big decisions like college, but I can definitely improve making more effective and quicker decisions in everyday life.
Well, those are a few nice broad ideas for improvement in the coming year. I hope I will be able to make improvement in some of them, even if I can't fully realize my goals.

My BOFo goals for the next year

I'M JUST...
My goals are quite simple, and spread out amongst a vast array subjects,
Areas, fields or whatever you wanna call them. They range from winning a state title in tennis to
Rearranging all the stuff in the trunk of my car
So that my trunk actually has room for me to put clothes and my tennis rackets and bag in.
Hunting down my drivers license would be nice so i don't have to pay large sums of money 4
A new one, but honestly with the condition my car is in i'll be
Lucky if that ever happens. In all honesty, i would
Love to get my car cleaned inside and out, becuase that will help in finding

My personal identification. Becuase without my license i could get in
A lot trouble, and the last
Thing i want to happen. A cop pull me over ,me not to have my license, and proceed to be
Handled by the long hard... arm of the law. It's just not a fun scenario... trust me i know from
Experience. All i hope is that i manage to have great success in having fun, and with my
Riveting social calendar and schedule this is very possible.
Sooooo that is what i want to accomplish in 2010, the end.

Two-ten

This next year many people are saying that they will accomplish many astounding feats that will make them the perfect well rounded people that they want to be. I am striving to have a few more reasonable goals of things that I will resolve to do in 2010. After a long list of wants and needs that I had compiled, I shortened my expectations for this upcoming year in a few points. I want to stop cracking my knuckles, enter an eating contest(and win), get a mustache, teach my pet turtle a few tricks, and to grow five inches. I prefer resolutions that I can accomplish and not to live another year in regret over what I forgot or could not do. I hope that this year I will stay more positive and not get distracted from my goals and also so that I can have personal enthusiasm for long term personal growth. Depressing and burdensome commitments such as wanting to lose weight or eat healthier do not tend to work for me, and I prefer the more lighthearted resolutions. Please wish me good luck in 2100.

Apathy

Throughout my high school experience, my biggest battle has been my struggle with apathy. I find myself staring at the clock in all of my classes and in whatever activity I have to do after school. I knock all of my homework out as soon as possible and rarely spend extra time making it my best work. I do just enough to keep straight As and a decent CV. Even as I write this blog, I have to admit that I mostly just want to get it done as fast as possible. But deep down I know I could be better. I really admire people who love learning, and are actually interested in the subjects that they are learning, and I think if I really applied myself, I could be one of those people too. So my 2010 resolution is to try to enjoy the classes I take, be interested in their material, and push myself to give 100% on every assignment. Instead of saying “who cares?” on every assignment and plowing through it, I’m going to try to think about why the subject I’m studying is important, and remind myself that a strong work ethic is a characteristic of almost all successful people. Along with these, I’d really like to narrow my list of college choices, beat my 5k personal record, and improve my math scores on standardized tests.

Where's The Paper Towels?!?!

2010. I can feel the end of high school coming. I want to leave for college already! I’ve got a lot to do and not enough time, and I would like to thank busy work for that. I have some embarrassing goals that I really need to complete. I need to learn how to type properly. I should probably learn the Spanish alphabet so I can speak Spanish better. I really want to become fluent in it. I want to read every chapter of the APUSH book. I want to get straight A’s this semester, and that should work out now that The Pregnant One is gone. I want to get a 4 on the AP Chem exam. That’s enough of that school stuff.
I want to get swoll as some would say, and keep improving my running time. I want to gain weight because I think I’m too skinny. Maybe it’s just a self-image problem. I really need to beat my mom at ping-pong. I shall spread the good word of Tourette’s Guy to everyone I meet.
And most importantly I just want to have fun along the way. It’s gonna be so much easier to have fun now that I can drive. So maybe I’ll piss some people off along the way, but at least I had fun doing it. They’ll get over it. They always do.

What is next for me

First of all, I need to finally remember to write the date correctly – not 2009, but 2010. Every time that I have dated something this year, I have had to correct myself. After I can cross this off my list, I think I will move on to some loftier goals. I will get As, pass my AP tests, and succeed on the SAT/ACT, and yadda yadda yadda. I also want to really learn the material in my classes, not just coast along and cram for the test the night before. I should learn to speak French better, and to stop being intimidated by my crazy French tutor.
A lot of these following goals are cliché resolutions, but they have stuck around for a reason! Less TV, more books. Make new friends, but keep the old. Spend less, save more. Be healthier. I also have a couple of more personal goals: win at travel Scrabble in physics, throw a completely even pot in my pottery class, be the best Peer Educator I can be, get my license, call my brothers at college and my dad more, write more letters, improve my handwriting, take more photos, and expand my vocabulary. Lastly, I want to find one college that is absolutely perfect for me, apply there early decision, get accepted, and never have to worry about college again!

2010 Goals

With a new year coming in, many new things are coming our way, whether or not we expect or want them to. It’s hard to wrap one’s head around everything you want to accomplish in the coming year when you have so much to think about in the coming week or two; but here’s my shot at it.

Junior year is one of the hardest and most important years in school, and therefore, many of my goals focus on school. I would love to keep all my grades up, do well on both the English and History AP exams, and show my best abilities on the SAT and ACT, as well as the slightly dreaded college applications, essays included. More specifically, I would love to improve my writing abilities. Reading all the practice essays our class has written, along with the first few chapters of Writing With Style, has shown me how much more I can do with an essay besides slapping something “adequate” down on a piece of paper.

Apart from school, I hope to learn how to manage time in a more efficient manner. If I let myself get overwhelmed with everything I have to do, I usually end up procrastinating and losing time I could have spent relaxing with friends and family, or practicing cello. Or even, as boring as it sounds, I would love to get into a habit of sleeping more, eating healthier foods, and working out on a regular basis.

Well, I think that’s more than enough to keep me busy for now. I better go get started, and see what new things come up along the way.

Basically, I'm happy with my life. I think that my hardest thing right now is freaking grades. I was doing pretty good first semester and now, the begininning of second semester, my grades have all gone to hell. They are truly awful. And coming from me, you know it's bad. So the main thing I want to work on this year is grades; more namely, to stop forgetting stuff. Hah. Ironic. 
But I think i've got most of my other stuff nailed down. So I'm not gonna change a lot. I'm pretty complacent. (I probably spelled that wrong but w/e)

A Promising Year?

I'm one of many people who make lists of goals, start off strong, and end up stopping about halfway along the year. The sad thing is that I don't try to just... give up. I work hard to achieve these goals, and while I do accomplish some, I still end up relinquishing the rest.

This year is probably going to be similar to the last... and the year before that, and the year before that, and so on. But that doesn't mean I can't try, right?

So, like last year--and all the years before, for that matter--I'm going to go for straight A's, a healthier living style, less procrastination, more organization, and so on. Basically, what everyone else is going to try to do. Something a little more unique? Well, I'd like to reach a higher singing octave without squeaking.

Have you seen that episode of Glee where Kurt tries to top Rachel in singing that high note in "Defying Gravity"? Think of a note about five half steps higher. Yeah, I'd like to sing notes that high without squeaking.

It'll take a lot of working out, and since a few of my All-State Chorus pieces are in that upper range, I can practice them with actual music. I'd like to consider myself a Soprano 1 without hesitating and worrying about the high notes.

I've got confidence, and I know I can reach this goal of I work at it. No stopping midway here.

2010 :)

With the New Year come many goals and many changes. In this New Year we will become Seniors, I'll move into my new house, and hopefully many more exciting things are to come. I am always one to have a running list of goals and to do lists, and this year will be no different. I love the satisfaction and feeling of accomplishment when I can cross something off my list. Many of my goals are, of course, school related: study more (especially for AP Bio), read more (not only for school but also for recreation), figure out what the heck I'm going to do for my mentoring project and find a mentor, write more, get fours and fives on my ap tests, and get a 4.0 this semester and the first semester of Senior year. I also have more miscellaneous goals that include: getting a job, working out more consistently, eat healthier, drink more water, make up my mind on my new room color, have a great time this summer, be more outspoken, and spend more time with my friends.

I'll be happy if I accomplish any of these goals. I know the likelihood of me accomplishing all of them is very slim and I know some of them won't be kept up for very long. But I am going to try. I know one thing that I will do: live 2010 to the fullest.

Goal

Sure, there are plenty of fun things that I would love to do in this New Year. However there is one goal that stands out in my mind as being absolutely necessary. I need to learn to focus, and to take my work more seriously. Ever since I was little, I was used to having everything be easy for me, and never actually having to try. Entering high school should have been a wakeup call for me but, as usual, I just pressed the snooze button and continued on my lazy way. In 2010 I am determined to wake up, and attempt to live up to the full potential that my parents believe I am capable of.

First off, I need to get off my lazy butt and get a job. That much my parents have made perfectly clear to me. In fact, they told me that if I don’t have a job, I can not even get my driver’s license, which is devastating to a car fanatic like myself. So as I welcomed the New Year in, I was busy searching for a job. Though I haven’t found one yet, I am convinced that it is only a matter of time, as long as I stick to my goal and keep working hard on finding myself a job.

Oh yeah, I should probably work a little harder on school work too. Procrastination can only get me so far.

2010: A New Year

I am a goal setter. It's what I do. I write things down so I can scratch them off. But, I can honestly say that I didn't make any resolutions this year.. which is probably out of shear laziness.

I guess that I have now been given the chance to make my list.. for a grade. Awesome.

I guess the first few things are a bit bland:
- Get a 4.0 Junior year (halfway there!)
- Get 4/5 on all my AP tests.. (except Latin)
- Keep up my Latin translations (sigh)
- Read APUSH (Definitely least likely to happen)

Okay on to bigger and better things:
- Spend less time on Facebook
- Read at least a book or two a month
- Keep it under 1000 texts a month (talk more, text less)
- Stay out of car wrecks related to "distractions"
- Drink more water
- Eat more fish, less red meat
- Watch less than 3 hours of TV a day (this ones difficult (: )

And the ones that I would really love:
- Get and keep a job that I like
- Have an amazing summer (road trip?)
- Listen to every song on my iPod on shuffle without skipping (1055- I can barely get through 15)
- Find a mentoring project that fascinates me
- Keep a garden (grow something edible)
- Buy more clothes from Goodwill and less from the mall
- Learn to sew
- Keep my friends close
- Take advantage of all opportunities presented to me


Honestly, I might accomplish one.. or all of them.. or none, but hey, I'm gonna try.. Either way, I know myself and I'm sure I'll live 2010 to the fullest.

A new type of writing

I have only a few goals for 2010. Getting an A in U.S. History and doing well on the SAT are some of the more pressing issues for me. But what of the non school related goals. My goals are not as lofty as my colleague Matthew Powell’s are but they are worthy of mention nevertheless. Goal #1: Every evening get at least 8 hours of sleep. This goal may seem trivial and capricious but if you stop to think, it makes sense. The average high school student that I am in daily contact with gets less than 8 hours per night for some reason or other. The one’s that get 8 hours or more, either do their homework in the morning as they walk to class or are incredibly efficient. Goal #2: get some piano practice done. Music used to be my life but now that I don’t have a life anymore, I have become lax in my practice. I need to start practicing more. I really need to, otherwise I’ll lose my stress reliever and things will go haywire. Goal #3: improve my ping pong and public speaking skills. Although it may not seem so, these two skills walk hand in hand. Any presentation involving the act of speaking is much like a ping pong rally. You need to be careful the entire way and if there are a few slip ups, if you try harder, you may be able to recover. But if you make to large of a slip up, you will find the ball darting past you. The audience’s attention will do the same. Cool. So that’s all I’ve got to say.

2010, A Year In Preview

My goals for 2010. I don't really have any concrete goals, I guess. I need to find a mentor for Seminar, definitely. I'm hoping to have a good time in CKYOJO, so I guess performing well could be a goal. (And on second thought, let's throw in improving my currently godawful trumpet range.) An abstract goal I have is to reconnect with people with whom I've fallen out of touch - some of them specific people, others people that would come to me if I took the time to think about it.

I want an A in APUSH this semester, which will be challenging seeing as I don't believe I've legitimately read a chapter in Bailey since about chapter 6. (For me, trying to read Bailey seems like trying to convince a wolverine to go vegan.) I aim to achieve a 5 on the AP Cal and AP English tests, with the first goal seeming a bit more in reach at the moment. Sorry, Mr. L, I'm still working to get there.

Espero poder hablar casi con fluidez en español - al momento, mi clase de Español para Hispanohablantes pasa bien, pero necesito más práctica con hablando.

One goal I definitely have is to be able to make up my mind. Er...actually, I'm not sure about that one.

I have a loose goal of wanting to make somebody's day, everyday - even if it's just something small to brighten someone's day. And why not go ahead and add procrastinating less to the list? Maybe being able to tolerate my siblings a little better, too. But that's not entirely feasible, if you ask me.

I guess I have a lot of goals in my head, as concepts, but not many in measurable, tangible forms. But whatever the case is, I think 2010 will certainly keep me busy. Bring it on.

In 2010 I want to do the following things: Floss my teeth everyday, go to the bathroom as soon as I need to (instead of waiting ungodly amounts of time), get a 2 on the AP spanish test, keep my rabbit alive, get my rabbit spayed or nuetered - or both, go to a Vampire Weekend Concert, play some great games of Ultimate Handball, get a new baby brother, learn a new language, get another magic gig, go to bed at 9:30 every weeknight, inherit a house (not from anyone in specific), get all As, watch the movie the Godfather, and then the Godfather II, and then the Godfather III on three consecutive weekends, go on a trip to New Orleans maybe stop at Bonnaroo on the way down, get my rabbit's flees taken care of, get those itchy, possibly cancerous, birthmarks removed from my back, learn how to whistle, keep my room from smelling like an old woman, eat a whole loaf of that thick white bread from Great harvest that they always have out for samples with cinnamon butter, finish the third season of Arrested Devleopment, like Radiohead even a little bit, visit someone in college, become rich, get hired back at Camp Shalom, graduate from high school. Accomplishing these would be nice.

Matthew R. Powell on 2010

so it's 2011 and i look back on 2010 and i say : "man, what a year"

and you're all like: "why?"

so i lay down the facts: "well, i got all those great grades and i got into GSP and all these really nice colleges are scoping me out."

you look disappointed. "come ooooooon. that's all you got for me? what a square."

anxious to prove myself not a square, i say: "alriiiiight. well, i went on a road trip, conquered my fear of opening my eyes underwater, rode on a dolphin's back, learned how to juggle, ghostrode a car, ran a mile in under six minutes, did a backflip from a standing position, beat andrew in ping pong, wrote and produced a locally successful rap album, tied a bow tie, went mexican sledding, had a massive snowball fight, mastered the fine sport of curling, successfully revamped the formerly defunct Henry Clay Intramural Ping Pong Club, high-fived the majority of the uk basketball team, waded into the Pacific ocean, balanced ten pencils on my face, bought a ticket to one movie and stayed in the theater all day, went to bonnaroo, conversed with someone in spanish, yelled out my name on national television, tried alligator jerky, rode a bike with my hands not on the handlebars, perfected my impressions of jerry seinfeld, lil wayne, charlie from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, louis armstrong (as well as adding new ones to my rehpitwar), got my brother to stop smoking, lit a match on the bottom of my shoe as well as the pavement and the side of a building, got more good at grammar, increased my abilities on the basketball court, and bench-pressed Geet Parikh."

"NOW YOU'RE TALKING!" you yell enthusiastically, and we high-five.

2010 Here I Come.

Though I have plenty of standard "get good grades", "spend more time with friends" goals for the new year, I plan to concentrate more on the fundamental, less measurable resolutions I hope to achieve. Things that I won't be able to complete in a week, and things that other people may not even notice. Things that that make me the person I want to be, and fulfill the life I hope to lead.

I hope to live deliberately. I hope to live with the utmost consciousness of existence. I don't just want to be--I want to live.

I find that it is often (especially in our busy over-achieving lives) that we become lost in the tide of schoolwork, going from day to day and from week to week under the umbrella of lengthy to-do lists. The weeks become months, the months years, and before we know it... We're doing it again in a different place.

I don't want to live this way.

I don't want to be a machine, to be scripted by the confines of my To-Do-Lists.

I want to live.

Any time we reach a milestone, a new school year, the end of a semester, etc-- I always hear the same sentiments, "Gosh, that went by fast!" Well I don't want it to go by fast. These may very well be some of the best years of our lives, and I can think of no greater shame than for them to be squandered in an obscure tide pool of stress and lack of meaning.

I want to reflect, I want to dance, I want to laugh, I want to cry, I want to be challenged, I want to run, I want to sing, I want to act foolishly, I want to win, I want to lose, I want to love.

In 2010...

I want to live.

Assignment: Cha Cha Changes

What do you hope to accomplish with 2010? Call it a resolution, call it a goal, call it what you will; but what's gonna be special about 2010, how are you going to be better, how are you going to go about doing it in only 365 days? On your marks. Get set. Go!!

so..... no blog this week, eh?