One thing you don't know about me

This seems like kind of an odd topic, since obviously I've been writing these blogs for a few months now, but I've finally decided to address the actual physical act.

I've been writing since before I could write, and I've been reading even longer. When I was two or so, my parents used to hear noises coming from my room late at night. They'd open my door to find that I had climbed out of my crib and was sitting amidst a pile of books I had pulled off my bookshelf, just paging through each one. I didn't learn to read until around first grade when everyone else did. Books just always held a great mystery to me. There was always such a draw. There still is. Sometimes I feel like everything I know and think I got from a book somewhere, though I like to imagine that a bit of it is just me.

I dictated my first poem to my mom when I was three years old:
Raindrops fall from the sky.
Soft love.

That's all it was, but my mom kept it, along with an illustration I did. Poetry has since been replaced by other types of writing, and I like to think that that two line poem is the best I'll ever compose.

Now as I'm nearing the age where I need to decide what I want to do with my life, I realize that I've known all along. Writing is the only thing I've ever really wanted to do. My love of books has somehow translated into an intense desire to write them for myself.

I don't know if I'll be good-I certainly hope so, but I don't really know. I only know that it's the only thing I can ever be happy doing, and that it's the hardest thing in the world.

I won't make a lot of money, but that'll be okay. I can live in a box so long as I have paper and pencil. And a bookshelf.

Sorry about this tangent, but I was reading back over my old posts, and all of my "things you don't know about me" entries. It just seemed kind of silly that one of the most important things about me hadn't been covered. So now it has been, and you can go back to sleep.

Getting better all the time

Christmas just gets better every year. It really does.

Things that made this Christmas spectacular:
1. At 11:11 p.m. this afternoon I happened to be looking at a clock. For once in my life I honestly couldn't find anything to wish for (I didn't remember the pony I've been wanting until it was too late.)

2. To cut right to the material: I got a gorgeous new cell phone that I was not expecting at all and am currently in love with (sorry Christian.)

3. Since we went to church on Christmas Eve, we were able to just hang out for a few hours before heading over to my aunt and uncle's house.

4. My cousins got a Wii (wheeeeeeeeeeee) for Christmas, so we got to play that a little bit (they wouldn't relinquish it for long-not that I blame them.)

5. My grandma told me on the phone this morning that she's planning on coming down for my graduation this spring.

6. I have the whole rest of Christmas break ahead of me (with two projects to do, but I don't think about that.)

7. I get to go to sleep now-ah, blessed sleep!

8. And number eight, my lucky, favorite number. Jesus is born!

P.S. Merry Christmas

It's a Wonderful Life

Christmas should be really, really fun this year. For one thing, we're actually staying home. Last year we were in Wisconsin, and the year before that we were in Florida. It will be lovely to wake up in my own bed on Christmas morning.

Other reasons why I'm excited:

1. I got my Mom a gorgeous yellow i-pod nano. She just lost her old i-pod, and I knew it was something she'd never buy herself. Anyway, today in Target we were waiting in the check-out line and just chatting, when she happened to mention that she was going to hopefully get an i-pod somewhere down the road. I (very subtly) asked her which color she'd want, and she said yellow!!! I had to try really, really hard to act natural and not burst out laughing. She's going to be so surprised!!!

2. We have a huge Christmas tree. It's about eleven feet tall, and actually scapes the ceiling. We had to stick the angel on a lower branch because there was no room for her on top.

3. My family's going to go see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button sometime over break.

4. We have heaps of snow.

5. Our Christmas picture is acually decent this year. It consists of Amy and I sitting on either side of Annie (the dog) in front of the Christmas tree. Annie looks fairly demonic (her eyes are yellow and her tongue is lolling out,) but my eyes are open (a first), so I'm not complaining.

6. Church. I hope we go on Christmas Eve, because I think it's just more magical. Everyone's still waiting for Chrismas, and the church is all dark and peaceful. I don't know why, but I always feel like chuch on Christmas day is sort of garish, with the blinding sunshine and kids eager to get back to their presents.

A few minute details about me you may have missed:
1. I have wide feet
2. My ears are pierced, but I never wear earrings.
3. I have a scar on my left hand from scraping it against my saxophone reed.

A list before I come down off my cloud

4 Things I absolutely know to be true (or believe in, and won't be budged on):

1. The law banning gay marriage is completely unconstitutional, and I'm ashamed to live in a country where it exists.

2. I will never commit suicide-I just don't see the point, and frankly, it would be a sad day indeed if I ever got low enough to consider it.

3. There is no such thing as Hell. I don't care what anyone says. There is some good in every single person. Yes, even Hitler. I just don't believe God would damn His children, whom He loves, and whom He created.

4. There is no smell so wonderful as that early-morning floral, dewy smell that comes sometimes when it's warm out. I can't really describe it, but it's just heavenly.

I think I'll leave it here. I really don't know what's gotten me into this mood, but all of the sudden I feel like my life is too good, too big, for me to be sitting around not fighting for things I believe in, or at least to not enjoy the beautiful things I have.
This kind of feeling comes over me every now and then, and I feel like I'm destined for great things. I know that sounds kind of braggy, but I've never felt that I was going to lead a small, simple life. I'm going to do something great. Don't know what it is yet, but when I find it, I expect I'll know.

For your reading enjoyment

For your reading enjoyment, here's one of my favorite poems:


TREES
By Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

I really do love this poem-it keeps me humble.

A bit of prose before bed

My hair still smells like roasted chestnuts. They weren't roasted over an open fire. It was actually a charcoal grill covered in tin foil. After the chestnuts were done, we huddled around the grill like the hobos in Annie and savored the smell and the heat.

My feet were so cold on the way home that I had trouble working the gas and the brake without wincing.

Michael Phelps was on 60 Minutes, but I had more important things to do than watch.

Like soak my feet in a warm tub

And do my homework

Which I'm still

Ironically

Doing.

"Happy Thanksgiving back"

I've talked to a couple of people over the past few days about their Thanksgiving experiences. From what I gathered, many people...
a) Drive for hours to spend the holiday at someone else's house
b) Experience multiple fights between family members
c) Don't do anything at all.

I felt very sad for everyone who had to deal with any of the above things. You're all invited to my house for Thanksgiving dinner next year.

Here's how things go at the Gruntner house:
1. My mom's brother and his wife drive up from Wisconsin. They have 6 kids. One of them happens to be just a few months older than me, and one of them happens to have been born on the exact same day as my sister Amy. Needless to say, the foursome has a lot of fun together.
2. We always see a movie at some point during their visit. I can't remember what it was last year, but I do remember that we rented Home Alone a few years ago.
3. My Uncle Harold makes rolls. A ton of them. Us kids (sorry for the horrible grammar, but how else can I put it?) are usually hanging out outside or in the basement, but we make continual trips upstairs to snitch rolls.
4. We have these felt turkey napkin holders that Mom, Amy, and I made when Amy and I were really little and my Mom gotten a sudden (and fleeting) crafting streak. We also made pink rabbit napkin holders for Easter, but we realized a few years ago that they look suspiciously like Playboy bunnies. Our napkins go solo for Easter now.
5. All the cousins always camp out in the living room on the pullout couch and the floor. The annoying part about this setup is that when Mom and Aunt Sue wake up early to start cooking the blinding kitchen light wakes us up.
6. We (the foursome,) always get the card table to ourselves. We get little dishes of everything and lord it up with sparkling grape juice in wine glasses. Amy is teased, as usual.
7. There is always a game of touch football in the front yard. No matter what. Even if it's below zero and snowing (as it was a few years ago).
8. We always feel like we're going to explode after dinner. However, pie a few hours later is not something that is skipped.
9. We always go shopping on Black Friday. Hard core shopping, too. We wake up at four a.m., stumble out to the car, and head to the Mall of America. We arrive just as the stores are opening, and split up so the parents can shop for the kids and the kids for the parents. A few rides are crucial, also.
10. We always just have an amazing time together. No one in my family really fights or anything. We tease each other mercilessly, but that's what makes things fun. My extended family has so many inside jokes that a stranger looking in would be fairly bewildered.

Thanksgiving is not my absolute favorite holiday, but I think it's special because it's not about gifts or material things. It is probably the one holiday that is solely about spending time with family.
Happy Thanksgiving!!

Some things you should know about me:
1. I hate shopping. I just have no patience for it. Every so often I'll be in the mood, but very, very rarely.
2. Despite my name, I do not have a Christmas birthday. My birthday's in September.
3. I love to sing. I'm not good at it, but I do it around the house and in the car a lot.
4. Even at my age, I honestly love to sit on the floor and play Barbies with my little cousins. I think it's mainly that I like making up edge-of-your-seat dramas for the dolls to carry out. Will Ken leave Barbie for Stacey? Can Barbie own up to the fact that her gorgeous pink plastic car does not really drive?

The Twilight gush sequence

I just saw the movie Twilight a few hours ago. I actually liked it. I decided beforehand that I was going to try to keep the movie and the book seperate in my head-because they really are two completely different things. This way, I can keep my gorgeous mental image of Edward, AND enjoy Robert Pattinson at the same time.
For those who think Twilight the movie is corny: agreed. But I think the actors who played Edward and Bella did a great job-it was just the script that was the problem. Better writing would make this movie a lot better. I'm definitely looking forward to New Moon. Here's hoping they get a new game plan.

THINGS HOLLY LIKED ABOUT TWILIGHT THE MOVIE:
1. Carlisle is smoking hot!!!
2. When Bella first walks into the classroom and Edward is plugging his nose (that was really funny).
3. When Jessica is talking about Edward, and he smiles a little, like he was reading her mind and laughing at what she said (that was a fun moment).
4. Charlie. He just does a good job.
5. Pretty much all of the Cullens, though I wish they had given the rest of the family more of a role, for example, they didn't talk about Jasper's power at all.

THINGS HOLLY DIDN'T LIKE
1. Jacob. Eeeeww-his hair is disgusting
2. The way Edward talks-I know that he's British, and is probably trying to get his American accent straight, but he talks really slowly. I don't know if he was trying to get the 'turn of the century Edward' voice right, but it was just strange.
3. Bella's clumsy moments were not very believable.
4. Mike-he bugged me. But I guess he's supposed to.
5. The whole Bella-in-her-underwear makeout scene. That was unnecessary. That part would have worked fine if she had had pants on. It just made Edward seem sort of pervy-he happened to stumble in the window on the very night she decided to lounge around without pants on.

But honestly, I think that it's worth seeing. If you want to insult it and say it's not true to the book, then fine. You're probably right. But it's still a good movie in its own way-I'll definitely be buying it when it comes out on DVD.

P.S. The soundtrack is pretty good, too.

In which a stranger named Kevin provides enlightenment

Last night was the University of Minnesota indoor marching band concert. It was amazing, of course. The band has such energy, and they just looked like they were having a blast doing Thriller, sword fighting, etc.
During intermission a group of us were standing in the aisle talking when all of the sudden this marching band member holding an alto sax comes up and starts talking to us. He said his name was Kevin, and he was asking us which grade we were all in. I said I was a senior, and he asked me where I was going to school next year. Now, up to that point I had not made an official decision about college. It was still completely up in the air. But I found my self answering "here (the U of M Twin Cities)." As soon as I said it, I kind of thought to myself, "wow. I think I really meant it."
So I don't know if I'll go to the U of M or not, but just saying it felt very right. I mean, I can picture myself on campus-studying in the library, riding my bike across the bridge, living in a dorm, etc. I guess we'll have to see what happens.

A few things you should know about me:
1. I am fairly pro at video games. I don't play them often, but when I do, watch out!
2. I know a lot about movies. Even if I haven't seen a particular movie, I can probably tell you who the starring actors are, what it's about, etc. When I'm in college, I plan on going to see practically EVERY good movie that comes out-just now I don't really have a chance to see many.
3. I'm a Ravenclaw (just took the quiz)

Who has time to write anymore?

Not me

All that blood and gore

Today was the school blood drive. Since I'm in NHS, I got to volunteer to set up and work the drive, but I also wanted to donate blood, so I signed up for that as well. I was really nervous about the donation part. I'm not a huge fan of needles or blood. Not scared to death of them, but not a huge fan. Anyways, right away they had me fill out forms, making sure I didn't have AIDS or malaria or a cold. Then they took me into this little partitioned-off area with a computer inside. There they recorded basic info.-birthday, address, etc.

And then...The nurse whipped out a lancet and JABBED me with it. It hurt really bad, too. Maybe because it was unexpected, maybe because she went down so far she hit bone, you never know. At that point I was about to cry, so luckily the nurse left me alone to fill out a few more forms. I had finished and was reciting state capitals to calm myself down when the other nurse (I don't know if they're really nurses-they may just be volunteers) came in (pretty sure he heard me say, "Alaska. Juneau," because he gave me a really strange look) to get me for the actually blood-harvesting part.

Surprisingly, it wasn't too bad. I was actually sickly fascinated with watching my own heart's blood flow through a tube into a little bag. I was also talking to the guy (nurse? Volunteer?) who was collecting my blood. He was really nice. When it was all over, I pretty much hopped off the cot-I was just so glad that it was over and I was alive.

I headed over to the snack table (they make you eat afterwards to get your blood sugar back up), still feeling chipper. Alex Walter was working the concession area, and he gave me a glass of water and told me I was supposed to drink the whole thing before eating anything. I had just sat down to drink it when all of the sudden it hit me. My head started spinning like crazy. It was like the two lobes of my brain were trying to seperate-I couldn't focus on anything. I remember that I told Alex to get a nurse, and then everything went black. Next thing I knew I was being helped onto a stretcher and wheeled over to another partitioned area. The nurse gave me a wet paper towel for my forehead and had me put my knees up and breathe into a paper bag (my first time).

I felt instantly better. Well enough, in fact, to start laughing. Hysterically. I don't know what was so funny, honestly. The whole situation-me fainting in the gym, being carted away like I was dying, breathing into a paper bag-just seemed so hilarious. I think the nurse thought I was losing my mind.

Anyway, after that little ordeal was over I got to go back to class, and then to work when school ended. Work was hard. I was so tired all of the sudden (evidently that can happen), that I was just kind of stumbling around.

So that was my big blood drive ordeal. Even though it actually turned out to be fairly traumatic for me, I think I'll do it again in the spring. After all, I don't know how many people I know who've had blood transfusions. I'll probably need one myself someday. If I can at least make a small difference, I think a little dizziness is worth it.

HOPE is a four letter word

A quote I heard on the news right after Obama was announced as the winner, "Tonight I am forever proud of my country." That's how I feel. I'm just very proud to be an American (cue in patriotic theme music).

These results are especially cool because I voted. For Obama. About three and a half hours ago. I remember back in fifth grade when I went to this tiny private school, my friend Mara figured out that for the 2008 election I would be the only one in the class old enough to vote. I remember feeling really special, but not really understanding what it meant to vote. It's just a very strange feeling to have an event predicted when you were eleven actually coming to pass.

Already on facebook the bashings have started. I'm not really surprised, but I just think it's so sad. You know, if McCain had won, I would have been disappointed, but I wouldn't have sat there and pouted about it and insulted him. I (hopefully) would have learned to respect him as the leader of my country and I would have prayed that he bring about the change America desperately needs.

Anyway, I guess that there are always Debbie Downers, and some of them will probably come around, or at least keep their negative crap to themselves. We can only hope.

Thriller

People are doing this on facebook, but I didn't really read what it was too carefully until I saw my friend Amelia's blog, and then I decided to do it on mine. I hope she doesn't mind.

Here's what you do (or what I'm about to do):
1. Put your ipod (or mp3) on shuffle
2. For each question, press 'next'
3. Write down the title of the song that appears as the answer to the question
4. No cheating, even if it's weird

Here we go......

1. IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
-You're the one (the Vogues)

2. WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
-Lady Madonna (the Beatles)

3. WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
-Wait (the Beatles)

4. HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
-Doctor Robert (wow, the Beatles keep showing up)

5. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
-When I'm Sixty-Four (aahhh! Beatles again! I mean, I love them, but this is getting old)

6. WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
-I Second That Emotion (Smokey Robinson)

7. WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
-7 Things (Miley Cyrus-oh geez. Didn't want to admit I had this song...)

8. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
-Extraordinary (Liz Phair)

9. WHAT IS 2+2?
-I Am The Walrus (Beatles)

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
-Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) (Edison Lighthouse)

11. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
-Why Can't I? (Liz Phair-this is very strange-songs I've never seen before on my ipod keep showing up)

12. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
-Stand (Rascal Flatts)

13. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
-Come Together (Beatles)

14. WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
-Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd)

15. WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
-Ice Ice Baby (Vanilla Ice. wow. I hope not.)

16. WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
-La Vie En Rose (Louis Armstrong)

17. WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
-Mr. Jones (Counting Crows)

18. WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
-Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol)

19. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
-What is Love

20. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
-Don't You (Forget About Me) (Simple Minds)

21. WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
-Colour My World (Chicago)

22. HOW WILL YOU DIE?
-Barbie Girl (Aqua)

23. WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
-Cat's In The Cradle (Harry Chapin)

24. WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
-Angel of Music (Phantom of the Opera)

25. WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
-City of Blinding Lights (U2)

26. WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
-Sunshine (Jonathan Edwards)

27. WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
-All These Things That I've Done (The Killers)

28. DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
-A Spoonful of Sugar (Julie Andrews)

29. IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
-With A Little Help From My Friends (Beatles)

30. WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
-Bootstraps' Bootstraps (Klaus Badelt)

31. WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
-Thriller (Michael Jackson)

The great pumpkin has nothing on me

Halloween is definitely one of my favorite holidays. Now that I'm older, and can't trick-or-treat, it's lost some of its thrill, but it's still really fun. I think the best part is being disguised, running around at night. Just the mystery of it all.

This year I'm going as Red Green from the Red Green Show. You know, red/green suspenders, plaid shirt, bucket hat. It should be pretty funny. I'm not sure if I have the guts to wear it to school, but if my sister Amy (who's going as batman), is willing to wear hers in public, I think I'll be too. We'll see.

Some things you should know about me:
1. I used to write poetry
2. I adore Geico commercials
3. I hit my own mailbox a few months ago (and left a huge scratch on my mother's van)

Ode to joy upon recieving inspiration

I've got it. At last, at last, I've got it.
It's not quite enough to want it.
It's work
And tears
And frustration
And prayer
Mom said, "Write from your heart."
I said, "How cheesy."
But then I thought for a long time
And I wrote from my heart
And it came out clear
At last, at last, it came out clear.

(In case you're wondering, all above frustration, tears, work, and prayer were brought on by the Voice of Democracy contest. What can I say?)

A car crash, the Hyatt Motel, and Al Capone (sounds like Chicago!)

Highlights from The Great Chicago Adventure:
1. Getting to know people better. It always seems like on trips you either a)bond with people, or b)start hating them. I mainly bonded, thankfully. Not only did I have some good times with my roommates (Becca and her hour-long, smite-inducing prayer), but I got to hang out with some people that I didn't know super well before. I also got an amazing book list from Amelia-thanks, Amelia!

2. Seeing the sights. The lovely view from the Sears Tower (the fog was lovely), Navy Pier, The American Girl Place, etc.

3. Northwestern University. Nice people, high standards, amazing marching band. But I want to go to school in Minnesota. I love it here.

4. The Crash. Picture this: A taxi hits the side of our bus, we keep driving, make a u-turn at a red light in the middle of an intersection and go back, only to find that the other bus hit a fire hydrant, the taxi driver has severe whiplash and doesn't speak English, and a fire truck, an ambulance, and a cop car have arrived. It was pretty funny.

Lowlights:

1. Being tired all the time from getting back at midnight and waking up at six every morning.

2. The huge lines at Six Flags.

3. Having to speed-read Wuthering Heights on the train ride back.

So that's pretty much the trip in a nutshell. In case I failed to make it clear, I had an amazing time. I honestly don't think a trip to California could have been any more fun.

Something you may not know about me:
1. I should be typing my Voice of Democracy essay right now.

Chisago goes to Chicago

1. We leave for our big marching band trip to Chicago tomorrow
2. At about 5 a.m.
3. Meaning we have to be at the school by 4:20 a.m.
4. Am not happy about this (the early morning part)

I'm very excited to go to Chicago. I've never actually been there. I've driven through it, but I don't think that counts, seeing as I was about ten and woozy from being in the car so long.

Sorry to cut it short, but I really need to take care of some homework stuff before I go to bed-the fewer textbooks I have to bring on the trip, the better.

Something you may not know about me:
1. I'm a night person.

If clumsiness took human form...it would look like me

I'm not exaggerating, either. I'm really that clumsy. It's especially bad at work, because I'm often stressed out and distracted, so I don't think about important motor-related manuevers, like walking.
Today alone I:
1. Dropped a bunch of quarters while making change at the register
2. Bumped my hip really hard on a corner of wall while delivering
3. Tripped over a crack on the sidewalk and almost fell on my face en route to the post office
It really gets annoying at times, actually.

New topic:
The phone just rang. I answered it, and this lady's voice said, "Is this gaytag?"
Seriously. How rude do you get? I've never understood prank calling. I've always thought that it's incredibly childish for people to disturb innocent strangers simply because they're at a sleepover, high on sugar, and need some low-input entertainment.

New topic:
I'm procrastinating on my homework right now-must get back to it.

Some things you may not (and may not want to) know about me:
1. My bookshelf is the only thing in my room that's neat. I can stand any amount of messiness for the rest of my room, but if my books get disorganized, I freak out.
2. I have a scar on my right hand from running an exacto-knife over it while cutting cardboard for D.I. sets.
3. I talk to my car.

My creepy Romanov dream (and how I'm recovering from it)

So, as you may know (if you've been religiously following my blogs, as I'm sure you have been), I have a small obsession with the Romanov family. I just finished reading a great book about them (The Kitchen Boy, by Robert Alexander-read it!), so I guess I've just been thinking about their whole tragic situation for a couple of weeks.

Anyway, I had a dream last night about them. Actually, the dream took place this morning-for some reason I always dream in the morning, not at night.

THE DREAM (insert Twilight Zone theme here).........................
My whole family was vacationing in Russia. That, is, I'm assuming it was Russia. The closest I've been to Russia in real life is Italy, so the scenery of 'Russia' looked a lot like Italian scenery. So, we were in Russia staying at this really ritzy hotel. We were doing the traditional tourist-y stuff-going through museums, shopping, etc., when I happened to notice that right across the street from our hotel was the church where the Romanov family is buried. I was really excited about it, and so we all decided to go through the church and check it out. Inside the church was a huge statue of Rasputin squating by a stone fire. Behind the statue was a waist-high wall with kneelers in front of it. I walked up to the wall, and peered over it. Down a little ways was the tomb of the Romanovs. Each family member was depicted by a carving of their likeness (I assumed their remains were underneath the carvings). I was looking at the carving of Alexei, when all of the sudden its stone head turned and looked at me. I screamed and woke up.

Usually I can tell where my dreams are coming from and what they mean for the most part, but this one was really out there. It wasn't a nightmare, exactly, it was just kind of eerie.

So how am I recovering from my afore-described dream? Doing an immense amount of homework, of course! I'm also working on college apps. and making cookie dough for a school project (don't ask).

P.S. If you didn't understand some of the Romanov references:
i.e. Alexei, Rasputin, Russia, tragic situation, etc.,
please type 'Romanov' into Wikipedia and read about them. I assure you, at some point in your life you WILL look/feel stupid if you don't know at least a little about their story.

Things you may not know about me:
1. I bite my fingernails
2. I close my eyes in photographs constantly
3. My middle name is Lynn (it was initially going to be Anne, but my Aunt Lori pointed out that my initials would then spell HAG. My parents quickly made the switch, bless them.)

Maroon and gold forever

I've actually been planning my activities for today for at least a week-wake up decently early, then buckle down and do homework, pack for Chicago, and maybe relax a bit if there's time.
Fortunately, things didn't go according to plan, and I had a much better day than originally intended. I woke up at about 11 a.m (I'm always so tired on Saturdays-recovering from the school week, I guess), rolled out of bed, and was about to head to the living room in my pajamas when I spotted my aunt and uncle standing in the kitchen. I ran back to my room and got dressed before coming back out. FYI my pajamas are not that bad, I guess, but they do have Batman all over them.
My aunt and uncle and cousins were over to help us take our dock and boat lift out of the water, and to have lunch with us. It was a pretty fun afternoon. My cousin Rachel and I played her new Nintendo DS game-Mario Party-pretty sweet.
At around two in the afternoon everyone left, and my family dressed in our maroon and gold and headed for the cities. My dad went to school for two years at the U of M (before switching to the U of Wisconsin), so he gave me a little tour of the campus. He has wanted me to go there for a long time, and I've always just said, "We'll see, I want to look at other schools first," but when I was actually there on campus, I absolutely loved it. Not only was the campus beautiful, but it was just a really great atmosphere. I don't know if I'll go there for sure-but it seemed a better fit for me than the other schools I've looked at.
After the tour, we headed to Williams Arena to attend the Gopher/Penn State volleyball game. Penn State completely destroyed us, but it was still an enjoyable game. I was watching the pep band, and decided that the saxophones never appeared to be having any fun-it was the brass that was dancing and everything. If I go to the U of M, I'll definitely have to change that.

Some things you should know about me (the never-ending list)
1. I love anything to do with the Romanov family. Partly because their story is so tragic, partly because my own great-grandmother fled Russia during the revolution that brought about the deaths of the Romanovs-I guess I feel a connection to them or something.
2. I am a horrible dancer. Like, the worst in the world.
3. My room is retro-themed. Turquiouse walls, neon lights, posters of Elvis and the Beatles. I love it. I don't know what I'll do when I go off to college and have to live in a boring white dorm.

My abiding love for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

If you haven't seen Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, PLEASE go watch it! I realize that it's a western, and that some people have problems with westerns, but it's such a good movie. It combines four things I love very much:
1. Paul Newman
2. Robert Redford
3. Comedy
and
4. Strange, upbeat 60's music
It's especially relevent right now after the death of Paul Newman, who was such a great guy, and one of my favorite actors.

Holly's favorite actors (in no particular order):
1. Paul Newman
2. James McAvoy
3. Henry Fonda
4. Gregory Peck
5. Robert Redford
6. Heath Ledger
7. Can't think of any more, though I know I do have more favorites. That's the thing about lists-you have to make them gradually, or you won't remember things. Or maybe it's just my age catching up to me.

Frankenstein meets The Beach Boys

Two main things going on in my life right now:

1. Practice for the homecoming half-time marching band show (theme is Beach Boys)
and
2. Trying desperately to finish reading Frankenstein for Monday (I have about 92 pages left, so I'm pretty optimistic).

I don't have a lot to say tonight, except that I don't think I've ever been this busy in my entire life, but I'm not to the point yet where I'm too stressed to enjoy things-I'm definitely having fun. After, all, it's senior year. Shouldn't I be doing all the things I haven't gotten a chance to do in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade?

A progressive night

My mom teaches at a Catholic k-8 school in the cities, and every year they have an auction to raise money for sports, classroom supplies, etc. Well, one of the things auctioned off was a progressive dinner. A group of about four couples went together for it. HERE'S WHAT THEY GOT:
-picked up at their houses by a bus (a small one, but an actual bus)
-driven to our house for appetizers
-driven to the B's for salad
-driven to the L's for main course
-driven to the C's for dessert
-driven home by designated drivers

It's really a fun idea, actually. You stay for about 45 minutes at each house, eat a little, talk a little, and move on.

Everything was running smoothly. They had just left our house and were on their way to the B's, when we found out by phone call that the lady who was going to make the main course (paella) hadn't shown up at L's! There was a huge panic, of course. The couples had paid $1700 for this dinner, they had to have a main course! We couldn't figure out what had happened to the lady-Mrs. R had talked to her just a few hours before, and everything had been fine.

There was talk of the whole party coming back to our house for dinner, but luckily, the lady showed up at L's (two hours late), so there was no need.

It's been a very interesting night, but I'm so glad the house is quiet again, and I can put my pajamas on and be comfortable.

My day in four scenes

It's funny, but I complain and complain all week about the vast amount of homework I have, and now that it's Friday night and I can relax, I feel the impulse to do something productive.

I've had an interesting day:

MY DAY IN FOUR SCENES

Scene one: in which I get an A+ on a Modern Literature test, and realize that I should have been marked down one. I tell the teacher. She smiles, faces the audience, and praises my honestly in a soliliquy. Her decision (now she is acting it out through modern dance,) is to let me keep my grade in exchange for my truthfulness. I bow to the audience, then use an aside to explain that I would rather have the grade I earned. Teacher challenges me to a duel. She uses a whiteboard marker, I, a pencil. The battle drags on, with no side showing weakness until teacher's marker flies out of her hand, drawing a red gash across my cheek. I stumble, wounded, and grudgingly accept my grade.

Scene two: In which master of English tells me the meaning of life. I wish I could share it with you, but you'll either need to figure it out yourself, or find your own shaman to enlighten you. How shall you grow otherwise?

Scene three: In which I almost fall asleep in math. Wise, but technologically incompetent leader notices without a word. I vow to sleep more at home.

Scene four: In which I help decorate the store in which I work for the great holiday of Halloween. Yet another epic battle ensues, this one with a ladder which stubbornly refuses to unfold. I find myself shielding the endless shelves of Precious Moments from its metallic wrath.

My neck is sore. How's yours? (A brief soliliquy)

My neck is sore. How's yours?
It's all because my tenor sax
Is suspended from my neck
(Insert biblical allusion here),
Golden and ominous

We had marching band practice today. Not the three hour nightmare promised, but a rather more relenting two-and-a-half.

I will now wrap this up, because:
a. I need to do homework, and
b. My neck is sore (I haven't mentioned that, have I?)

Things you should know about me:
-My favorite Disney movie of all time is Robin Hood
-I love the monarchy. A lot.
-I'm left-handed

It's beginning to look a lot like fall

We had a very entertaining Knowledge Bowl meeting today. All the new members are really smart, and have caught on quickly. It took me at least a month to figure out the buzzing strategies. Though I enjoyed myself, I didn't really do all that well. Maybe it was because there were so many paper and pencil (math) questions.

Math is definitely my weakness. I hate that I have a weakness, but there it is. I just don't have that natural 'math sense' that allows you to remember things from year to year, answer questions intelligently in class, and figure out the amount of change due at work without relying on the cash register. I do try to have a positive attitude about it, however, because I know that as soon as I start getting really negative, my grades will start slipping.

I also want to add a little rant that I've been building up for a few weeks.
I'm president of NHS, which means that I'm primarily in charge of running meetings. That is, telling everyone about upcoming projects, deadlines, etc. Well, for the past two meetings Ms. Kniebush (excuse me, Mrs. Pohl,) hasn't been letting me say anything! I've just been standing up there like a doofus while she talks. I don't understand it! Last year Nikki led every meeting, and Mrs. Pohl just kind of sat back and added in things every now and then. At our meeting on Tuesday I actually held on to a flier about an upcoming project, thinking that I could jump in and talk about it, but Mrs. Pohl just took it out of my hand and explained it herself! I really don't know what to do here-trying to talk to her about it could end up insulting her. I guess I'll just wait until the next meeting and see how that one goes. Who knows? Since it's the beginning of the season, maybe she's just trying to establish everything before turning the leadership over to me.

Very busy week! This is how it looks:
Monday: Work 2:45-7:00
Tuesday: NHS 7:20 a.m., MB 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Wednesday: Knowledge Bowl 2:30-3:45
Thursday: MB 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Friday: Work 2:45-7:00 p.m.
Saturday: Cocktail party at our house 7:00 p.m.-who knows when
Sunday: Shopping, last minute homework

Things you should know about me:
-I have a moose antler (that's right, just one,) on the wall of my bedroom. I found it when my family was hiking on Isle Royale
-I make the best mixed CD's ever. And they all have themes.
-I'm extremely sentimental and a pack rat. The result? 3 big boxes of art projects from elementary school. Under my bed.

The rain, my oldsmobile, and other things

Tonight was a lot of fun. It all started with me going to pick Ali up for marching band. Everything was going smoothly until my car died. At a stop sign. At the end of her street. I tried restarting it a few times, but nothing. In case you aren't aware, I drive an Oldsmobile. A 1988 Oldsmobile that is older than me and doesn't let me forget it. I called my mom, and was getting a bit panicky when all the sudden there was a huge roll of thunder, and it started downpouring.
I'll take it from here:
-I got the car started (I know you were worried)
-I drove to the high school (with a few kicks along the way)
-Halfway there, it started downpouring so hard I couldn't really see the road
-I pulled into the parking lot
-It started hailing (yes, Paul Douglas, marble-sized hail)
-My window started leaking as it tends to do when it rains. We're talking a huge gush of water onto my head.
-Ali and I looked at each other and quickly put on our raincoats
-1, 2, 3. The doors were open, and we bolted across the parking lot
-My hood promptly blew off
-We sat through a 2 hour MB rehearsal with wet hair and soaked jeans
-It was very worth it

Sorry if that mondo list bored/puzzled you, but frankly I do enough 'paragraph form' in school.

Other things you may like to know about me:
-I believe in the 5 second rule
-I procrastinate quite badly (what a coincidence! I'm doing it right now!)
-I want to be a journalist when I grow up

Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging

This whole blogging experience is pretty strange, actually. Mainly because I'm not really an internet know-it-all. I'm the kid that sits looking over your shoulder with her mouth hanging open. "How did you do that?"
Pro's of blogging:
1. I like to write, so this blank word box I'm typing in is a dream come true for me.
2. Since I'm still in the technology addiction stage where I HAVE to check my computer every day, this is just one more thing to add to my internet rounds. Current cycle: Facebook, IMDB, email account, family access (to see my grades), and now this.
Ten Things You Should Know About Me:
1. I have Compulsive List-Making Disorder (CLMD). Treatment includes writing paragraphs. With thesis statements.
2. I like:
-movies
-books
-history
-music
-dogs
-laughing
3. I don't like:
-tripping over things
-braggy people
-the word 'no'
-squash (the vegetable, not the game. Actually I've never played the game, so who's to say I don't hate it?)

I don't really feel like completely baring my soul all in one night, so we'll stop here.