I Graduated and Other Lies Like That

I am exhausted. I graduated, but I am exhausted. Also, I am an absolutely horrible liar. Especially when its late at night and I can't come up with a good defense to save my life.

Mafia is a great game. But playing with your family, everyone knows who's a good liar and who isn't. I'm not a good liar. I'm also really bad at telling the "truth". Basically, I'm really bad at this game. I would begin what I thought was a good defense, and then stop half way through because I realized that I was actually some how condemning myself. I was also innocent, but they killed me anyways because I was to hesitant when telling them I was the nurse. I just sort of blanked out for awhile.  Sorry if I can't remember things right away! For example, on my way to work the other day, and I totally blanked out on where I was going. Sat at the stop sign for a couple minutes racking my brain to tell me where I was going. Three years every day at the same time and I can't remember where I'm going. I worry about myself sometimes . . .

Graduation was Thursday. I'm all smiled, congratulated, and thank you-ed out. But, so thankful for everyone who came to my open house to congratulate me on my high school graduation. I'm not going to lie (we all know I'm no good at that, so trust me on this) I made some absolutely amazing friends, and part of me wishes I could keep going to school. Yeah, told you I was bad at both the truth and the lies. (And people wonder why I'm always so quite!) I'm going to miss Art, Choir, Comm II, and all the students and teachers, but not PE or Health, or Science or stuff like that. It's been one crazy year. Still can't believe its over, and my summer cleaning job starts Wednesday already. So crazy. But back to work so I can go back to school! This time, in CALIFORNIA!

After telling me congratulations, the next thing to follow always seemed to be "You're so tall!" But that doesn't surprise me. I'm always told I'm tall. Tina said I was taller then all the guys who graduated . . .mostly because I wore really big heels. Yes, I wear heels, no I don't need them. But I like to wear them. And no, I didn't trip. Not even close. Have some faith in me, people!

Okay, its 12:25 in the morning and I'm so tired, so we are going to call this good. I would love to put some grad pictures in here, but I haven't uploaded them and I am not going to go find my chord this late at night. well, um, early in the morning I guess. So, be patient, pictures later, and I also have a video I want to share with you in another post. But, save that for tomorrow. Or Sunday . . .or Monday . . or, yeah. I'm not really doing that everyday thing anymore, but, we all knew that wouldn't last long anyways.

Stem fest 2012

Yes, I've been busy. Five jobs is a lot to work in 3 days, so obviously this isn't going to be my first priority.

Yeah, that's right, five jobs. Don's food center, OCCS, Pizza Ranch Corporate, I clean for a lady who broke her hip, and I clean for another lady who has a cat. (Hate cats, shed like crazy) Oh, and during Tulip festival I work for my aunt. This weekend so many people have been asking me, "Oh, you work here too?" Yes, Yes I do. I work everywhere. Only problem with that however, not a whole lot of time to sleep.

As much as I hate taking off work, I did make sure to take off so I could see the Night Show, My Fair Lady. Both Kaytee and Ms. LeMahieu did an AMAZING job. I went two nights in a row!! Actually, everyone did a fantastic job, especially the guy who played Alfred P. Dolittle. He did a great job.

Alright, It's been about a week and a half since I've been to bed before midnight. However, I don't have to get up for school tomorrow morning!!! Hooray! Friday was the last day of school for the seniors, but I still need to go back and work on my art mosaic. I ran out of pieces again, so tomorrow I need to go in and make some more. blah. I was so close!! Can't wait until it's done, it looks really cool!

Rae and Me in our Dutch Costumes

Kaytee in the Ascot Chorus

Ms. LeMahieu as "Eliza Dolittle"

Working hard at Tulip festival

Class of 2012

I know what you're thinking. But I have a valid reason for not posting on Friday or Saturday. No, really, why would I lie about such a thing?

This weekend was so crazy busy, and next week (which I suppose is now considered this week) promises to be just as busy with Tulip festival and all that. But, Friday night was the Spring Concert, and the Spring Dance. (Read as: I didn't go to bed until 12:30am.) Saturday morning was the Senior class trip to Mall of America/Waterpark of America (creative names, huh?) and a Twins game at Target Field.

Getting up at 6 in the morning after such a late night actually wasn't that bad. Until three hours later on an un-comfy buss. But, five hours, four pop-tarts, and an angry driver in Saturday noon city trafic later, I got to go shopping at MOA.

Another five hours of attempting to get comfy and sleep on the way home, basically with everyone freezing because Ms. VD wanted a window open, and me pretty much taking over the isle with my long legs, was quite the experience. To be honest, I was a little worried about Ms. J. At about 11pm or so she had some sour patch candy . . .and a few hours later she hit a wall so hard I'm not sure she's coming back. Everything was funny, and her laugh, combined with Ms. VD's laugh, was a whole new level of noise.

All and all, fun times. I'll tell you about our Mother's Day adventures tomorrow, because I need to sleep right now. Definitely suffering from lack of sleep right now. As well as the first sunburn of the year!

Ms. J looking at a Map of Iowa. That'll help find MOA

Stuck in traffic!

Target Field. (sorry abou weird angle . . . Won't rotate. Odd)

Walmart Run

Orange City can be super boring. Sioux Center on the other hand . . .

That's right, WALMART TRIP! I needed photos printed for Photography class, and a new (and bigger!!) memory card. Now I can hold an unreasonable amount of photos. :) While at Wally world I spotted this:

Gorrillapod Joby flexible tripod. It might also come in different colors. ISN'T THAT SWEET!? 20 bucks for the little point and shoot cameras, but I would need the ones strong enough to support a DSLR camera. Which, of course, Walmart doesn't have. Graduation/birthday/you love me so much gift?? 

I tried the little joystick machine game thingy on top of all the other fun stuff we did in Walmart. I came so super close, after 3 tries. I had one quarter left and my dear little sister dragged me out of the store before I got a chance to use it. :| Next time. Next time I will get that frog. Or elephant. Or something. I don't really care. :)

But, all this is besides the point. I promised to show you the other pictures I took that one rainy day. So, as promised, here they are:

The old rusted pickup that now runs. 

Our new tree! After all those storms took down the "Hammock" trees

Rose bud

48 Cupcakes Later

Friends, Family, followers of the blog, please listen closely. I am an idiot.

Yes. Really, I just called myself an idiot. You see, they are serious when they say don't grocery shop on an empty stomach. After work I decided to make cupcakes inside ice cream cones. So, I went and bought two different kinds of cupcake batter, frosting, and ice cream cones.

Whoa, back up! Ice cream cones?? Thank you Pinterest!! Yes, I'm aware that the inception cookies from pinterest where a major fail, but these worked. Oh they worked great. If you didn't over fill them . . .or under fill. There's one or two cupcakes that have a rather excessive amount of frosting on them, but you can't tell they're smaller anymore. :)

These are the cupcakes from Pinterest that started all of this

Last "Yearbook Food Thursday" tomorrow, so we are all bringing food. I will be bringing 48 cupcakes. What am I going to do with 48 freaking cupcakes?! Okay, just shy of 48. I had a couple. So did my sisters. So a little closer to 40.

So two hours and 48 cupcakes later, I'm exhausted and never making cupcakes again. Okay, maybe not never, but definitely not anytime soon.

However, while the kitchen is clean, and I found enough containers for them, I have problem. How in the world am I going to transport 48 cupcakes (which translates to two round containers and a paper plate full of cupcakes and ice cream cone cakes) to school tomorrow. This wouldn't be a problem if I was still home schooled, they'd already be there. Then again, probably wouldn't have a yearbook food Thursday to bring cupcakes to . . .or a yearbook for that matter.

But no worries. I have learned my lesson. And don't you ever let me make that many cupcakes in one night ever again.

These aren't the ones I made tonight . . .not going to take pictures of those!

Spring Rain

At last, bed time. Well, almost. What a day. I have a pounding headache that is out of this world. But that would be my own fault for not putting stuff away where it belongs. I was feeling rather stressed and tired when I got home from working at the grocery store and sat down on my bed. Being so tired from working so hard tonight I just flopped backwards. Good idea, really, I do it all the time. Not tonight, oh no. Tonight I hit my head on my camera.

Why did I even put that on my bed? Probably because as soon as I got home from OCCS I had about five minutes to myself before I had to go to Dons. Since it had freshly rained, I decided to take pictures because of the water droplets and sunlight and green and all that cool photography stuff. Of course instead of putting it back where it belongs, I put it on my bed. Partially because I was in a hurry, partially because it doesn't actually have a place to belong to . . or a name. It still needs a name, that is rather important.

I'll come up with a name later. For now, some more sweet pictures :)

This didn't turn out quite how I was picturing it in my head, but it worked. What I really need is another lens that is especially for close ups. (If anyone wants to chip in, its somewhere in the price range of over $500)

I love how you can still see the storm clouds in the background. Makes a great contrast with the bright springing green leaves. 

Mom's rose!! Can't wait until they bloom, but for now I'll settle with the water on the leaves. 

These where all taken about half an hour after that really weird pounding rain/hail. I feel bad for those soccer kids today . .glad I was inside!! Also glad I drove this morning. I was going to bike . . .but just didn't feel like it. And good thing to! For those who don't know why its a bad idea for me to bike in the rain . . .It's really not a pretty picture. There's this one car that is sometimes parked on the side of the street that has a dent in the back. I think that's from my bike, but not sure. 

But, changing the subject . . .I have more pictures from this little photo adventure that I'll share tomorrow. Now, I am going to relax and forget about all this random stressful junk I have to deal with over the course of the next couple of weeks. Blah. 

Balloons and Mondays

Today's a Monday. I dislike Mondays, just because they come and ruin what was a perfectly wonderful weekend. Back to school, back to work. So, due to this being the good old normal blah Monday day today, I'm giving you some balloons to brighten up the day. Look on the bright side . . .tomorrow's Tuesday. 

Okay, okay, I don't really truly hate Mondays. Hate is a strong word. I dislike some Mondays. Most are okay. It's best to always stay positive about things because 1) staying positive is good for you. 2) chances are you'll make someone else mad. 

Sometimes it's easier just not to care. Or rather, not let little things bother you. That annoying kid that sits infront of you, the kid that can't hit the volleyball over the net, (that'd be me. Sincere apologies to my PE classmates. I'm hopeless) That one annoying manage at work who you can't hit because A) that's rude, and B) He likes Doctor Who. Positive side of all that? Only two more weeks of school, I'm not running anymore, and I'm only working at don's for the summer. And he likes Doctor Who, so really, not gonna let it bother me. 

 "And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music"

~Friedrich Nietzsche

These balloons where in the Orange City graveyard. 

Last

If one word were to be used to sum up this beautiful Sunday it would be "last". Today was my last Bel Canto church performance, as well as my last piano recital. Such good times, and now it's over. I still have one more Bel Canto performance, and still get to take summer lessons, but regardless of that, I'm still really sad.

For the piano recital I played a duet with Tina and a solo. Our duet . . .well, it worked. It was a cool duet, and we played it quite well considering the few times we actually practiced it. For my solo I played a Sonatina by Kuhlau. I love sonatinas, but someone (*Tina*) thinks they are boring. WRONG! The only boring part of a sonatina is the name. Everything else is fun. :)

The Beethoven bust I received for playing in the Soo Mar festival for 3 high school years. 

A few hours after the recital we headed to Ireton for the very last Bel Canto church performance. I love singing with those girls. On top of that, not to brag or anything, but we sound amazing. Okay, maybe bragging a little bit. We finished our last song and it just hit me, this is the last time I get to do this. As much as I hate early mornings (which is very much) I'm going to miss coming to school and singing for an hour. We have one more performance at the Spring concert this Friday, so it's not quite over, but really close!

Bel Canto singing in Lebanon CRC

Thank you Ms. LeMahieu! 

On a side note, two more weeks of school for us seniors. Getting closer to summer, and for the first time I'm not sure I'm ready yet. When I say the school year flew by, it really did. Still feels like just a few weeks ago when I walked into School and thought "How am I going to survive a whole year?!"

Dandelions

Lately I have been obsessed with taking pictures of dandelions. Okay, maybe obsessed is to strong of a word, but it works. Ever since I read the hunger games, I don't just view dandelions as a pretty weed, but a symbol of hope. (yeah, yeah, yeah, cliche, I know) On top of that, dandelions are everywhere, are really easy to photograph. :) The bright yellow color pops out of every picture, and if you can get close enough the detail of the seeds can also make a really sweet picture.

Tornado Twenty Twelve

Wow. What a day. I feel like I've been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. Three minutes before the weekend truly starts and the siren goes off. When it started I was really confused, we already had a drill today . . .two in one day? Little drastic for such a beautiful day out. Five minutes before hand we were filming our Comm II movie and it was so sunny out. But, 45 minutes later still at school in a hot cramped hallway.

Work at OCCS was a different story. They are currently replacing the roof about the office and entry way, back by the locker rooms. The guys had about 1/2 hour left of work on it, with only the drain left to finish. Beautiful timing, huh? Flooded hallway, what a mess!! I worked for as long as I could before having to take off and go work at Don's.

Due to me not having my camera and teachers locking us in the school, I sadly did not get pictures of "Tornado 2012" Oh well. Safer I suppose. If the tornado had come even five minutes later there would be over 300 students on the roads, track kids going to Storm Lake, (or was it Spirit Lake? I don't care), soccer practice, and I'd be biking to work. BIKING. God works in wondrous ways. Thanking Him!!

So, tonight, I share with you Facebook photos of the storm. In such a little amount of time it went from being beautifully sunny to a dust cloud black out. Scary!

Up-close

These three photos where for an assignment in school. We had to take extreme close-ups of texture. 

I love my photography class at Unity. We have gone to Alton, Orange City, and an abandoned farm in Sioux Center to take pictures. We've done texture, still life, and advertisements. It's kind of sad that schools almost over. 

10 more days until I'm done with High school. For good. Unless of course I manage to fail my Health exam . . . .but don't get me started on that. To be honest, as much as I love summer and not going to school, I'm going to miss it. (except for PE, not going to miss that). There are a few classes I'll miss, like Art, and yearbook, and Comm II. But it's the students and teachers that I will miss the most. 

You are my Sunshine

Wow, day two and I still have motivation. Go me. Betcha didn't see that one coming! Tonight I really wanted to post photos of lightning. However, I don't actually have pictures of lightning. I guess I've just never had the desire to go outside in a huge thunder storm when it's dark, humid, and possible hailing. I'm rather protective of my camera so getting it wet isn't exactly my favorite thing to do. One of these days however, I will get a really sweet picture of lighting, hopefully.

Since I can't do lightning, I decided to do sunshine. I have lots of those photos! Sunsets, sunrises, no two are alike. Ever sunset photo is different, so I never get tired of taking pictures of sunsets. Sunrise on the other hand . . . .require getting up early. For those of you who know me, that doesn't happen very often. Unless it's for a very good reason. The only sunrise I've actually taken pictures of was as a "Sleepover" where we staid up all night, and then walked to the bakery at about 6 in the morning. Okay, okay, I'll shut up now and show you the pictures.

Sunrise in the Park
(really, really early!)

Spider Web

Corn Field Sunset

Old Churches

Trinity in Orange City, Iowa
I love the reflection of the tree branches in the windows.

It's May 1 today, and as I said earlier, time for some photos! Today I wanted to share three black and white photos that I took one really cold winter day and never got around to doing anything with them. 

Originally I wanted to enter them in a black and white photo contest. I never got around to it due to some minor procrastination/motivation issues. Surprise, surprise. The contest was for black and white pictures of old, historic buildings in Sioux County. Since one of the oldest historic buildings in Orange city was reduced to nothing but ash a few years ago,  I choose to do some churches. 

I am a little church (no great cathedral)

Far from the splendor and squalor of hurrying cities

I do not worry if briefer days grow briefest,

I am not sorry when sun and rain make April

My life is the life of the reaper and the sower;

My prayers are prayers of earth’s own clumsily striving

(Finding and losing and laughing and crying) children

Whose any sadness or joy is my grief or my gladness

Around me surges a miracle of unceasing

Birth and glory and death and resurrection:

Over my sleeping self float flaming symbols

Of hope, and I wake to a perfect patience of mountains

I am a little church (far from the frantic world with its rapture and anguish)

At peace with nature

I do not worry if longer nights grow longest;

I am not sorry when silence becomes singing

Winter by spring, I lift my diminutive spire to

Merciful Him Whose only now is forever:

Standing erect in the deathless truth of His presence

(Welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness)

EE Cummings