The big eighteen

In 2 days one of my best friends, who is a junior, is turing 18 years old. Shes already going to be an adult, which is kind-of scary because that means i'm going to 18 soon too. I never knew time would go this fast. Turning 18 is a huge thing, but I dont know how me and my other friends are going to celebrate it for her. I was thinking about renting a limo for a couple of hours with my friends and each pitching in money and just driving around town but thats a lot of money and then we wouldnt be able to afford her an actual gift. So i think were just gonna go out for dinner and open gifts and have fun. I wish we could go somewhere for the weekend to celebrate it, like a road trip to chicago or wisonsin, but I'm probably dreaming too big for something like that to happen. I don't know yet what I'm going to get her. I'm thinking about making her a collage of her and her friends, because I'm good at making stuff like that and she loves pictures. She could hang it up in her room on her well. Also, I'll probably just go to the mall and pick out a shirt for her since she loves clothes.. so it'll be a good gift. I've known her for over 4 years now so I want to do something great for her big day coming up on Wednesday.

memorial day.. what is it?

Today is memorial day, and we have the day off school :). I know memorial day is a day to celebrate the veterans who have died in wars they have fought for for our country, but thats pretty much all I know. So I researched the holiday and this is what I found..

It's on the last Monday of May.
It's formerly known as Decoration Day,
First made to honor soldiers of the American Civil war, it was expanded after World War 1 to include casualties of any war or military action.
A lot of people observe this holiday by visiting cemetaries.
In addition to remembrance, Memorial Day is also used as a time for picinics, barbecues, family gatherings, and sport events.
Americans also view Memorial Day as the unofficial beginning of summer.
Many Americans use Memorial Day to also honor any family members who have died, not just servicemen.
There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day.

I guess in my opinion, Memorial day is a day to recognize those who have been in our lives and passed away. It's usually a beautiful sunny day to spend time with the people you love and go to cemetaries and put flowers on their grave. I think it's a great holiday.

getting a head start on running

This fall is my last year doing cross country and I want to make it my best by training hard and making it on varsity. It's easier to say that though, then actually go through with it. Summer is the time to sleep in and be lazy and enjoy the sun. But when you want to be in shape by the time XC rolls around, you have to get up early (when its the coolest.. around 5 or 6am) and run and run and run. After getting up that early and running for an hour or two, I usually shower and head back to bed. It's hard to get up that early though and have enough energy to run that long if you were out late the night before. You have to discipline yourself and all the hardwork eventually will pay off. After XC is over I'm usually in the best shape, I should be in the best shape BEFORE the season starts, but I dont start training until like 2 weeks before the season starts, which isnt good. I should start training before school gets out, aka now. My goal, this summer, is to run 500 miles, which is on average about 5 or 6 miles a day. It's not going to be easy, but that would be amazing if I actually met my goal. I would cut atleast 2 minutes off my time. I am excited for the new season because I love the people on my team and I obviously love to run, but I am scared that I wont be on varsity for my last year at Kennedy.

deadly memorial day weekend

Last night when I was hanging out with my friends I got a phone call from my mom around 10:15 telling me to get my butt home because their was a big storm coming through. I didnt believe her, I figured she just didnt want me out late doing who knows what. So I drove home, and my friends stayed behind. It was only sprinkling when I left, but the winds picked up and it turned into a huge storm with the sirens going off. My friends were stuck at my friend Trevors house and they were freaking out. All I can say is I'm glad I left and listened to my mom. My family and I hung out in the basement watching the news until 11 or so and then I went to bed happy that the tornado didnt hit us. This morning I was reading the newspaper and it said that 8 people died yesterday from the storm. I guess it didn't only hit Iowa because my aunt called from Minnesota and said her and her friend were out shopping when it hit and they had to cover in a dressing room. And my aunts friend has hail damage all over her car, which would really suck. As I was reading the paper, I saw pictures of peoples houses blown off, with only the floor remaining. I've been in storms before but none of my family or relatives has ever been hurt and i'm very lucky to say that.

summer fever and distractions

With school ending in less than 2 weeks, and the weather getting warmer.. kids are slacking off with their homework and wanting to get out of the house and do someting.. I'm also constantly working, so when I get home from work I'm too exhausted to "hit the books." I procrastinate instead, do my assignments at the last possible minute. It doesnt help that teens have all these distractions either. By distractions I mean instant messaging, texting, talking to people on their cell phone, hanging out with friends, and facebook. I'll admit that technology is keeping me from my school work and I know its affected a lot of other people as well. I try to hide my cell phone and turn off the computer when I study, but I'm so used to doing these things that I just can't keep them off and focus on studying. Nowadays, when we talk about distractions, we think of cell phone usage while driving. I used to not be able to make phone calls and text while I drove.. but now that I'm getting better of a driver and I'm a little more experienced, I can pull it off. I also can mess with my iPod and pick the song I want, while at the same time attempting to keep my eyes on the road. Its not easy to multitask but sometimes it just feels like you have to text that specific person back or they'll get mad, but I know messing with your phone or iPod is dangerous and I should stop. This summer my goal is to not become so attatched to all this new technology and focus on having a good summer and getting outside and enjoying life; away from a cell phone and computer.

im a senior now?!

Wow I havent blogged in FOREVER.. I need to get on that. Well yesterday the seniors left us, and now the class of '09 is the oldest.. I thought I would like being the "top dogs" of the school, but to tell you the truth, it's kinda weird.. Everyone at school is younger than me or the same age. I miss seeing the seniors, I've been used to them for 3 years.. and it's just weird without them at Kennedy anymore. I can't believe I'm a senior now.. well almost. It seriously seems like yesterday that I was freaking out about the 1st day of school at Kennedy. And in less than a year I will be leaving and on to college.. and out in the real world.. scary! The thing I am most excited about for senior year is senior pictures and having my own grad party and prom is always fun:). Also my friends and I have always planned that we would take a senior trip after we graduate, so I'm looking forward to doing something along that line. I am excited for next year.. but nervous at the same time!

mothers everywhere

Yesterday was Mothers day, the day to honor all the wonderful mothers in the world. They do so much; they cook, they clean, they do the laundry, they even hold jobs outside the home. They drive and drive around town, dropping off kids right and left at sports practices and music lessons. They help their children study and prepare their school lunches. They are superwomen, they do EVERYTHING. For mothers day, I usually wake up early to make my mom a nice breakfast in bed and make her a card and buy her flowers to plant. But yesterday's mothers day was a little lazy for me since I got home at 5am from prom. I was much too tired to do anything, and I feel bad about it now. :( My mom does so much for me, and I should have taken the time to atleast make her a card telling her how important she is to me. Her birthday is in 4 days though, I'll make it up to her then by getting her a good gift. I remember in 4th grade I bought this journal and on each page I had a letter of the alphabet with a picture (that i drew with crayons) of something about her. (For example, (A) My mom makes the best apple pies. and (S) She has a gorgeous white smile that lights the room.) Cheesy little stuff like that was what I said in the journal. It was probably the best gift I've ever gave her and It was called the "book of mom." She loved it and still has it to this day. I'm glad I spent so much time on it, along with any other gift I've ever gaven her, because she is very important to me and she deserves all the time and effort I put into any gift.