Gone for the weekend... :)
Today, I was extremely tired because last night I only slept for about 3 hours for some reason. But, oh well, I made it through the day. Today was my first day of Jazz Band! It was fun, definitely. And I'm in the Jazz Band that Joey und Joe (?) are in :) It's gonna be an awesome time, I know it. I mean, it's band! :D At the moment we're working on Feliz Navidad and Silent Night I believe. In Symphony Band (my 6th hour) we're working on Hallelujah, like I told you, Christmas Calypso and Nimrod (an extreeeemely slow song although we still play it kinda fast).
Today we also got our big christmas tree... oh my God, it is huuuuuuuuuuuge! And it smells really good. Christmas tree-ish.
Later, I'll have to pack my stuff for... CHICAGO! Maaaaan I'm so incredibly excited!!! I looooove this city :D
Soooo no blog entries for the weekend :P
BYE xD
11/29/2007
11/27/2007
Winter
It's soooo cold...
Today I had a US History test that I had totally forgotten about. But, oh well, US History with Mr Tatum is the easiest thing in the world anyways, so it didn't really matter that I hadn't studied. I reviewed a little in the beginning of the hour when he took attendance and I'm pretty sure I got everything right.
The most exciting thing that happened today was probably what happened in Band. When I entered the band room looking for Aubrey, I found her talking to Mr Hilton. He left when I reached her. She looked kind of puzzled, shrugged and said "I guess your playing in here today." ... I soooo wasn't ready xD but whatever... that's what you definitely learn in High School, being spontaneous. So, I pretty much screwed up most of the time because we mainly worked on a song that I had never even played before (Hallelujah, some of you probably know it... "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAllelujah, Hallelujah, Halleluja - HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAllelujah, Hallelujah" and so on). Still, it worked out better than I had thought. And it was fun. After band, when I walked out of the room and past Mr Hilton, he asked me how it was going, and when I told him I was getting into it, he said "Well, you'll just have to fight your way through it!" with this big excited/optimistic smile on his face :D he's just amazing...
After school, my area rep Camille came over. She arrived while Sheila was gone to get the kids (so I was home alone because Doug was still at work and Courtney had cheer practise), we talked for about ten or fifteen minutes, then she told me since there don't seem to be any problems, she doesn't see a point in waiting for Sheila, so she gave me a christmas present (I'm not gonna open it before christmas though, so I don't know what it is yet) and yummy vanilla cupcakes for the whole family and then she left again.
Guess I'm a very uncomplicated exchange student ^^ oh well, I really don't mind.
On Thursday, I'll have Jazz Band after school for the first time. I'm excited for that!
3 days left til... CHICAGO!!!! :)
Today I had a US History test that I had totally forgotten about. But, oh well, US History with Mr Tatum is the easiest thing in the world anyways, so it didn't really matter that I hadn't studied. I reviewed a little in the beginning of the hour when he took attendance and I'm pretty sure I got everything right.
The most exciting thing that happened today was probably what happened in Band. When I entered the band room looking for Aubrey, I found her talking to Mr Hilton. He left when I reached her. She looked kind of puzzled, shrugged and said "I guess your playing in here today." ... I soooo wasn't ready xD but whatever... that's what you definitely learn in High School, being spontaneous. So, I pretty much screwed up most of the time because we mainly worked on a song that I had never even played before (Hallelujah, some of you probably know it... "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAllelujah, Hallelujah, Halleluja - HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAllelujah, Hallelujah" and so on). Still, it worked out better than I had thought. And it was fun. After band, when I walked out of the room and past Mr Hilton, he asked me how it was going, and when I told him I was getting into it, he said "Well, you'll just have to fight your way through it!" with this big excited/optimistic smile on his face :D he's just amazing...
After school, my area rep Camille came over. She arrived while Sheila was gone to get the kids (so I was home alone because Doug was still at work and Courtney had cheer practise), we talked for about ten or fifteen minutes, then she told me since there don't seem to be any problems, she doesn't see a point in waiting for Sheila, so she gave me a christmas present (I'm not gonna open it before christmas though, so I don't know what it is yet) and yummy vanilla cupcakes for the whole family and then she left again.
Guess I'm a very uncomplicated exchange student ^^ oh well, I really don't mind.
On Thursday, I'll have Jazz Band after school for the first time. I'm excited for that!
3 days left til... CHICAGO!!!! :)
11/26/2007
Pictures...
So, here are the pictures from yesterday that I promised this morning:
And here are some pictures from today - it was snowing when I came home from school!!
Oh, and by the way... Tomorrow's gonna be my first day in Jazz Band :) I'm excited!
And here are some pictures from today - it was snowing when I came home from school!!
Oh, and by the way... Tomorrow's gonna be my first day in Jazz Band :) I'm excited!
Michaela's Birthday
She turned 8 yesterday :)
When we had arrived back home after church, we got chores done, then I practised my flute and then, around 3, Grandma Tina, GG (the GreatGrandma ;) GG is her nickname), Uncle Pat (he's Grandma Tina's brother I believe) and Aunt Ann (Grandma Tina's sister) arrived. Later, Doug's Aunt and Uncle (I forgot her name, I think his name was Dave?) came over, too. We had snacks, salad, pizza and "crazy bread". Later, Michaela unwrapped her presents while everyone was watching. Courtney and I had gotten her a Bratz doll. She got another Bratz doll, some fairy books, clothes a Webkinz (some kind of online pet) and some more things. I really enjoyed talking to Uncle Dave. He was stationed in Germany in the 60's. It was interesting to hear how he experienced Germany (he liked it) and he asked me a lot of questions about anything that has to do with Germany. Of course I also talked to the other family members, they are all so nice. Aunt Ann who lives in Washington, D.C. told me I should come visit her some time in spring. That would be so awesome.
Later, we ate Michaela's birthday cake. It was some kind of ice-cream cake that Grandma Tina had made before. It was reaaally yummy :P
I'm gonna post some pictures later, right now I'm at school, sitting bored in my Drafting class and so I don't have my camera with me.
Never take Drafting, it's so pointless.
When we had arrived back home after church, we got chores done, then I practised my flute and then, around 3, Grandma Tina, GG (the GreatGrandma ;) GG is her nickname), Uncle Pat (he's Grandma Tina's brother I believe) and Aunt Ann (Grandma Tina's sister) arrived. Later, Doug's Aunt and Uncle (I forgot her name, I think his name was Dave?) came over, too. We had snacks, salad, pizza and "crazy bread". Later, Michaela unwrapped her presents while everyone was watching. Courtney and I had gotten her a Bratz doll. She got another Bratz doll, some fairy books, clothes a Webkinz (some kind of online pet) and some more things. I really enjoyed talking to Uncle Dave. He was stationed in Germany in the 60's. It was interesting to hear how he experienced Germany (he liked it) and he asked me a lot of questions about anything that has to do with Germany. Of course I also talked to the other family members, they are all so nice. Aunt Ann who lives in Washington, D.C. told me I should come visit her some time in spring. That would be so awesome.
Later, we ate Michaela's birthday cake. It was some kind of ice-cream cake that Grandma Tina had made before. It was reaaally yummy :P
I'm gonna post some pictures later, right now I'm at school, sitting bored in my Drafting class and so I don't have my camera with me.
Never take Drafting, it's so pointless.
11/24/2007
Happy Holidays
I feel all christmas-y now :)
So, Thanksgiving is over... it was really cool, all that yummy food... we had the 2 turkeys, stuffing, casserole, mashed potatoes, salads, pumpkin and apple pie, my cake... it was so much and sooo good. Grandma Tina, Doug's dad and Doug's brother with his wife and his children Cassie (13), Tony (16) and Amanda (18) came over to have Thanksgiving dinner with us. It was really nice. It was cool to hear about Amanda's college life, since I might want to try and do one or two semesters in the US one day, too...
Everybody liked my cake :) it was gone in like, a couple minutes :D
Yesterday and today, we had the left-overs for dinner. Still yummy :)
Today, Sheila and Doug started decorating the house and I think most of the inside is done now. It is so awesome! Doug put a whole winter/christmas village on the cupboards in the kitchen, and Sheila put up a little christmas tree in our little sitting area by the windows with all of Courtney's Santa Bears around it :) and Doug put some lights up by the stairs.
Here are some pictures:
So, Thanksgiving is over... it was really cool, all that yummy food... we had the 2 turkeys, stuffing, casserole, mashed potatoes, salads, pumpkin and apple pie, my cake... it was so much and sooo good. Grandma Tina, Doug's dad and Doug's brother with his wife and his children Cassie (13), Tony (16) and Amanda (18) came over to have Thanksgiving dinner with us. It was really nice. It was cool to hear about Amanda's college life, since I might want to try and do one or two semesters in the US one day, too...
Everybody liked my cake :) it was gone in like, a couple minutes :D
Yesterday and today, we had the left-overs for dinner. Still yummy :)
Today, Sheila and Doug started decorating the house and I think most of the inside is done now. It is so awesome! Doug put a whole winter/christmas village on the cupboards in the kitchen, and Sheila put up a little christmas tree in our little sitting area by the windows with all of Courtney's Santa Bears around it :) and Doug put some lights up by the stairs.
Here are some pictures:
Santa Clause is coming to town :)
11/21/2007
The Day Before Thanksgiving
Cooking, cleaning, getting ready...
So today, I got up around 8.30, took a shower, had breakfast and did my chores. Then I practised my flute, played some games with Michaela, and then Sheila came home from the grocery store and the big preparing could begin :)
While Sheila prepared stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans and other yummy stuff, I made my cake. I'm making a Rocher-cake for Thanksgiving. Getting all the ingrediences wasn't easy... they don't have "Sahnesteif" over here! I couldn't imagine that. And they don't have "Vanillezucker" either. I still made it... I used gelatine instead of "Sahnesteif" (yeeea mom I used GELATINE and I MADE it :P) and just plain powdery sugar instead of "Vanillezucker". I did the base and the frosting, and tomorrow I still have to decorate it. It looks good already. And it smells good :)
Then we cleaned a little more, Courtney and I did the blinds of the windows. We'll do the rest of the cleaning tomorrow.
I'm so excited :) Relatives will be coming over, we'll eat all that awesome food (Sheila's gonna make the turkeys tomorrow!!) and it'll just be FUN!
Happy Thanksgiving!
So today, I got up around 8.30, took a shower, had breakfast and did my chores. Then I practised my flute, played some games with Michaela, and then Sheila came home from the grocery store and the big preparing could begin :)
While Sheila prepared stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans and other yummy stuff, I made my cake. I'm making a Rocher-cake for Thanksgiving. Getting all the ingrediences wasn't easy... they don't have "Sahnesteif" over here! I couldn't imagine that. And they don't have "Vanillezucker" either. I still made it... I used gelatine instead of "Sahnesteif" (yeeea mom I used GELATINE and I MADE it :P) and just plain powdery sugar instead of "Vanillezucker". I did the base and the frosting, and tomorrow I still have to decorate it. It looks good already. And it smells good :)
Then we cleaned a little more, Courtney and I did the blinds of the windows. We'll do the rest of the cleaning tomorrow.
I'm so excited :) Relatives will be coming over, we'll eat all that awesome food (Sheila's gonna make the turkeys tomorrow!!) and it'll just be FUN!
Happy Thanksgiving!
11/20/2007
11/19/2007
What's New
3 days left until Thanksgiving... :)
So on Thursday, I stayed after school with Amy and Marina to help them with Precalculus stuff. We had our test on Friday. Marina gave me a ride home after that. I really like her, she's so nice! And I love her accent, it sounds so cool.
The weekend was pretty lazy again. I had enough time getting my chores done and I spent a lot of time practising my flute and the piano. It's nice to have some time for that stuff again, but I think I'm ready for some action again now! I can't wait until Mr Kosi splits up the Jazz Band. I really want to become a piano player in one of the Jazz Bands. On Saturday, Courtney and I went shopping with Sheila. We got 2 big turkeys for Thanksgiving and most of the ingredients for the cake I'm gonna make. It'll be a Rocher-cake.
Yesterday in the afternoon, Courtney and I went down into the basement do play DDR (Dance Dance Revolution). That game is SO much fun! I've played it once before that, with Rob, and I sucked ^^ so yesterday we started on the easy stuff. For those in Germany who don't know this game (I think we have it over there but I was never really aware of how much fun it is): You have this kind of dance mat with 4 arrows on it (up, down, right, left) and you stand on it facing the screen. You select one of the songs from the disc and how difficult you want it to be, and then the song starts and you have to step on the arrows shown on the TV screen. We were having so much fun!
Last night, Sheila, Courtney and I went to mass at St. Claud's where we also had our monthly Youth Group meeting. Again, there weren't a lot of teens there but more than last time. I really need to talk to some people and get them going there. It could be so much fun if we were a couple more people. This time, a Freshman girl who's also in L'Anse Creuse band was there, her name's Elizabeth. She looked at me and was like "I think I've seen you before..." but I didn't recognize her at first. But when we went on talking and finally got to the band topic we realized that we're both in band and then I actually remembered her. Man, I knew I was bad at names but I'm usually good at remembering faces... I'm getting old I guess.
Today was alright. I love my first hour because I can talk to Keith and Katie. In Precalc, we got our test back and I stayed in my seat. I really start hating that seat, it's like right in the corner buy that frickin cupboard with that frickin turkey picture on it... and now Gary and that other guy.. dang it... Nick? are gone, they doesn't sit next to me anymore. So that'll make it even more boring. But still Precalc is pretty much my most interesting class because I learn a lot.
Band was just HILARIOUS today. As usually since I got my flute, Aubrey and I were in one of those tiny, weird smelling practise rooms and she taught me how to play the flute. That's always a lot of fun with Kyle (he's learning the baritone, did I tell you that before?) and his "teacher"... erm... whatshisface... Billy?! or something... in the practise room next to us and Brian always walking around being bored... that often ends up in funny situations (Billy - I'm just going to call him that for now - hanging on doors or his face pressed against those little windows in the doors, Brian randomly walking into the room, making some unhelpful comments - "I'm so bored!" - or filming my embouchure :D or, well, just things like that). But today was extraordinarily funny :D okay here's the story:
I was playing and Mr Hilton looked into the room... first thing he said was "Watch your embouchure Maria, it has to be a lot smaller!", then he gave Aubrey some tips on how to teach me that, and then, almost out the door, he said "Oh, but, Maria, you're already actually playing! That's awesome!" ... Thanks! Yea, that's our dear Mr Hilton :P Criticism first, that takes you further... I like that attitude though.
Oh well, but than Aubrey wanted to show me that How-You-Know-Your-Embouchure-Is-Right trick (you kinda try to see you breath on the mouthpiece after playing a long note, and the shape tells you whether your embouchure is right) but it didn't work. So she's like "Oh yea, that works better like, outside, when it's really cold...." Silence... "HOLD ON! It IS really cold outside! LET'S GO OUTSIDE!" and so we went outside, stayed by the door to keep it open (once you're outside, you don't get back into the school... protection of the students and all that stuff), waited until my flute was cold and then I did the embouchure trick. It worked, and I actually got it right like once or twice ^^ and people in the back parking lot were watching us and the guys were coming from inside, all bored looking and wondering what we had so much fun about :P So then, we went back inside. Of course now, our flute were too cold to play them. So, we had to warm them up again and we did that by pressing all keys down and just blowing warm air through them. That reminded me of my first aid course in summer, so I told Aubrey and we both started laughing and then we were telling each other about our first aid courses and we were in tears from laughing :D just sitting there in that tiny little smelling room...it was so hilarious... Took us a while to get back to work xD Oh my god I can still laugh about it...
Well, so my life's still fun over here :) hope everyone else is doing good, as well?
I better go to bed now.
I wonder how Keith did on his Chemistry test, he had to retake it today because he was in New York when we took it. I met him after sixth hour when he went there, he seemed pretty nervous.
Alright, good night! Flute players ROCK :D
So on Thursday, I stayed after school with Amy and Marina to help them with Precalculus stuff. We had our test on Friday. Marina gave me a ride home after that. I really like her, she's so nice! And I love her accent, it sounds so cool.
The weekend was pretty lazy again. I had enough time getting my chores done and I spent a lot of time practising my flute and the piano. It's nice to have some time for that stuff again, but I think I'm ready for some action again now! I can't wait until Mr Kosi splits up the Jazz Band. I really want to become a piano player in one of the Jazz Bands. On Saturday, Courtney and I went shopping with Sheila. We got 2 big turkeys for Thanksgiving and most of the ingredients for the cake I'm gonna make. It'll be a Rocher-cake.
Yesterday in the afternoon, Courtney and I went down into the basement do play DDR (Dance Dance Revolution). That game is SO much fun! I've played it once before that, with Rob, and I sucked ^^ so yesterday we started on the easy stuff. For those in Germany who don't know this game (I think we have it over there but I was never really aware of how much fun it is): You have this kind of dance mat with 4 arrows on it (up, down, right, left) and you stand on it facing the screen. You select one of the songs from the disc and how difficult you want it to be, and then the song starts and you have to step on the arrows shown on the TV screen. We were having so much fun!
Last night, Sheila, Courtney and I went to mass at St. Claud's where we also had our monthly Youth Group meeting. Again, there weren't a lot of teens there but more than last time. I really need to talk to some people and get them going there. It could be so much fun if we were a couple more people. This time, a Freshman girl who's also in L'Anse Creuse band was there, her name's Elizabeth. She looked at me and was like "I think I've seen you before..." but I didn't recognize her at first. But when we went on talking and finally got to the band topic we realized that we're both in band and then I actually remembered her. Man, I knew I was bad at names but I'm usually good at remembering faces... I'm getting old I guess.
Today was alright. I love my first hour because I can talk to Keith and Katie. In Precalc, we got our test back and I stayed in my seat. I really start hating that seat, it's like right in the corner buy that frickin cupboard with that frickin turkey picture on it... and now Gary and that other guy.. dang it... Nick? are gone, they doesn't sit next to me anymore. So that'll make it even more boring. But still Precalc is pretty much my most interesting class because I learn a lot.
Band was just HILARIOUS today. As usually since I got my flute, Aubrey and I were in one of those tiny, weird smelling practise rooms and she taught me how to play the flute. That's always a lot of fun with Kyle (he's learning the baritone, did I tell you that before?) and his "teacher"... erm... whatshisface... Billy?! or something... in the practise room next to us and Brian always walking around being bored... that often ends up in funny situations (Billy - I'm just going to call him that for now - hanging on doors or his face pressed against those little windows in the doors, Brian randomly walking into the room, making some unhelpful comments - "I'm so bored!" - or filming my embouchure :D or, well, just things like that). But today was extraordinarily funny :D okay here's the story:
I was playing and Mr Hilton looked into the room... first thing he said was "Watch your embouchure Maria, it has to be a lot smaller!", then he gave Aubrey some tips on how to teach me that, and then, almost out the door, he said "Oh, but, Maria, you're already actually playing! That's awesome!" ... Thanks! Yea, that's our dear Mr Hilton :P Criticism first, that takes you further... I like that attitude though.
Oh well, but than Aubrey wanted to show me that How-You-Know-Your-Embouchure-Is-Right trick (you kinda try to see you breath on the mouthpiece after playing a long note, and the shape tells you whether your embouchure is right) but it didn't work. So she's like "Oh yea, that works better like, outside, when it's really cold...." Silence... "HOLD ON! It IS really cold outside! LET'S GO OUTSIDE!" and so we went outside, stayed by the door to keep it open (once you're outside, you don't get back into the school... protection of the students and all that stuff), waited until my flute was cold and then I did the embouchure trick. It worked, and I actually got it right like once or twice ^^ and people in the back parking lot were watching us and the guys were coming from inside, all bored looking and wondering what we had so much fun about :P So then, we went back inside. Of course now, our flute were too cold to play them. So, we had to warm them up again and we did that by pressing all keys down and just blowing warm air through them. That reminded me of my first aid course in summer, so I told Aubrey and we both started laughing and then we were telling each other about our first aid courses and we were in tears from laughing :D just sitting there in that tiny little smelling room...it was so hilarious... Took us a while to get back to work xD Oh my god I can still laugh about it...
Well, so my life's still fun over here :) hope everyone else is doing good, as well?
I better go to bed now.
I wonder how Keith did on his Chemistry test, he had to retake it today because he was in New York when we took it. I met him after sixth hour when he went there, he seemed pretty nervous.
Alright, good night! Flute players ROCK :D
11/14/2007
One Week 'til Thanksgiving :)
I'm so excited about that :) (FOOOOD!)
This week has been nice and lazy so far. We had a Chemistry test yesterday and got our score today (97%, yay) and we have a Precalculus test on... Friday I believe. School's pretty easy though, at the moment I hardly have any homework (and if I do, I get it done in school), I don't really have to study for the tests a lot because the whole school system here is just so easy and I understand everything. Drafting isn't as boring anymore because Mr Caldwell put me on one of the computers... and everybody who's working on the computer is doing other things we're not really supposed to do besides that... the guys are playing games, I'm checking my mails and writing mails and every now and then, I go on with my drawing for a while. So I still get my work done. Mr Caldwell doesn't really care most of the time.
Writing Workshop has become less horrible - I actually found someone to talk to in that class! Her name's Marina and she moved here from Russia last year, so we understand each other about getting-involved-problems in a really cool way. She's so nice.
I'm practising the flute during band class everyday, supervised and supported by Aubrey. It's fun to have her as a flute teacher. And I think I am kind of getting better, though I'm still terrible on the flute. But, come on, I don't even have it a week yet!
Yesterday I couldn't take my flute home because it had a leak. Mr Hilton repaired it and now my flute's fine again!
I'm really looking forward to Thanksgiving! It's going to be so much fun. The first thing people tell me about Thanksgiving is always that there's tons of good food... sounds good :P And I believe we're hosting Thanksgiving for the whole family, so they'll all come over. I can't wait to get to know them.
After Thanksgiving, on the last weekend of November/first weekend of December, I'll go on a YFU trip to Chicago - I'm soooo excited! I love this city so much, I am so glad I get the chance to go there again!
And theeeen... CHRISTMAS is approaching! :)))
This week has been nice and lazy so far. We had a Chemistry test yesterday and got our score today (97%, yay) and we have a Precalculus test on... Friday I believe. School's pretty easy though, at the moment I hardly have any homework (and if I do, I get it done in school), I don't really have to study for the tests a lot because the whole school system here is just so easy and I understand everything. Drafting isn't as boring anymore because Mr Caldwell put me on one of the computers... and everybody who's working on the computer is doing other things we're not really supposed to do besides that... the guys are playing games, I'm checking my mails and writing mails and every now and then, I go on with my drawing for a while. So I still get my work done. Mr Caldwell doesn't really care most of the time.
Writing Workshop has become less horrible - I actually found someone to talk to in that class! Her name's Marina and she moved here from Russia last year, so we understand each other about getting-involved-problems in a really cool way. She's so nice.
I'm practising the flute during band class everyday, supervised and supported by Aubrey. It's fun to have her as a flute teacher. And I think I am kind of getting better, though I'm still terrible on the flute. But, come on, I don't even have it a week yet!
Yesterday I couldn't take my flute home because it had a leak. Mr Hilton repaired it and now my flute's fine again!
I'm really looking forward to Thanksgiving! It's going to be so much fun. The first thing people tell me about Thanksgiving is always that there's tons of good food... sounds good :P And I believe we're hosting Thanksgiving for the whole family, so they'll all come over. I can't wait to get to know them.
After Thanksgiving, on the last weekend of November/first weekend of December, I'll go on a YFU trip to Chicago - I'm soooo excited! I love this city so much, I am so glad I get the chance to go there again!
And theeeen... CHRISTMAS is approaching! :)))
11/11/2007
I Got a Cold
That really sucks...
My nose is still pretty much closed and I think I'm losing my voice. I'm taking nasal spray, some pills that make the nose free and my daily vitamins. Hope that'll help.
What I forgot to tell you about Thursday: We had a bonfire after dinner outside, that was fun :) we roasted marshmallows...
On Friday, I didn't do much. School was okay but I was frickin tired... Friday night after dinner, we had vulcano cakes for dessert - YUMMMMMY! One of the most delicious things ever :) Later, when everyone was in bed/Sheila and Doug watching TV upstairs/Courtney on the computer, I zapped through the TV channels and found the Bourne Identity... really cool movie, never saw the whole thing I believe.
Yesterday, my day was pretty lazy again - and I could sleep in!! That was so awesome... I tried to call Chrissi but couldn't get through because somebody was using the phone, and then I asked Swenny and Rina on ICQ whether she's back home already or still in the hospital and they told me she's still in the hospital, so I called her there :) In the afternoon, we went to church. During mass, we celebrated Father Gary's anniversay and Jacob sang with the school's choir. He looked so cute up there :)
After church, we went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner. I had burritos. Then we went home and Sheila, Michaela, Courtney and I got ready to go to Pankow to watch L'Anse Creuse's school play (Cinderella) there. It was fun, I saw so many people I know on the stage :)
Later, back home, I again found myself alone in front of the TV after a while... it's amazing how many good movies there are actually on almost every night here :) This time, I found Underworld: Evolution - that's like, one of my favourtie movies!
Today will be lazy again... I love weekends like this :) although I miss band... I am going to do my homework, hopefully finally get my handwritten journal updated (really need to do that) and my nails done...
Relaaaaxing :) need to rest so I get rid of my cold...
My nose is still pretty much closed and I think I'm losing my voice. I'm taking nasal spray, some pills that make the nose free and my daily vitamins. Hope that'll help.
What I forgot to tell you about Thursday: We had a bonfire after dinner outside, that was fun :) we roasted marshmallows...
On Friday, I didn't do much. School was okay but I was frickin tired... Friday night after dinner, we had vulcano cakes for dessert - YUMMMMMY! One of the most delicious things ever :) Later, when everyone was in bed/Sheila and Doug watching TV upstairs/Courtney on the computer, I zapped through the TV channels and found the Bourne Identity... really cool movie, never saw the whole thing I believe.
Yesterday, my day was pretty lazy again - and I could sleep in!! That was so awesome... I tried to call Chrissi but couldn't get through because somebody was using the phone, and then I asked Swenny and Rina on ICQ whether she's back home already or still in the hospital and they told me she's still in the hospital, so I called her there :) In the afternoon, we went to church. During mass, we celebrated Father Gary's anniversay and Jacob sang with the school's choir. He looked so cute up there :)
After church, we went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner. I had burritos. Then we went home and Sheila, Michaela, Courtney and I got ready to go to Pankow to watch L'Anse Creuse's school play (Cinderella) there. It was fun, I saw so many people I know on the stage :)
Later, back home, I again found myself alone in front of the TV after a while... it's amazing how many good movies there are actually on almost every night here :) This time, I found Underworld: Evolution - that's like, one of my favourtie movies!
Today will be lazy again... I love weekends like this :) although I miss band... I am going to do my homework, hopefully finally get my handwritten journal updated (really need to do that) and my nails done...
Relaaaaxing :) need to rest so I get rid of my cold...
11/09/2007
First Bandless Weekend
I can sleep in tomorrow...
Some more things I forgot to tell you...
I got my Junior pictures. They are nice but oh well, I never really like school pictures... I mean, who does?? On my pictures, I have this one piece of hair that lies kinda weird on my head... maaaan... whatever...
We had the time change last weekend and in the beginning of the week, that was awesome because for some reason I was more awake than usual but by now, I'm reaaaally really tired.
My throat didn't feel good yesterday, today it's fine but instead, my nose is all icky and feels closed and I sneezed a couple times today. I guess I'm getting a cold... baaaah.
Well, I got to go.
Dinner time!
Some more things I forgot to tell you...
I got my Junior pictures. They are nice but oh well, I never really like school pictures... I mean, who does?? On my pictures, I have this one piece of hair that lies kinda weird on my head... maaaan... whatever...
We had the time change last weekend and in the beginning of the week, that was awesome because for some reason I was more awake than usual but by now, I'm reaaaally really tired.
My throat didn't feel good yesterday, today it's fine but instead, my nose is all icky and feels closed and I sneezed a couple times today. I guess I'm getting a cold... baaaah.
Well, I got to go.
Dinner time!
11/08/2007
Some New Stuff in November
It feels like a new "chapter" or something...
So, the first marking period is over (means we get report cards next week or so), marching season is over, and everything seems to start new. I like it, though... but I do miss marching band a lot.
So on Sunday, Sheila, Courtney and I went to church together and after that, we went on a biiig shopping tour. First Sheila stopped at the Fruit Market, then we went to Sam's Club which is... a store where you can just get ANYTHING from food and household equipment to electronics, clothes, books,... I finally found an international calling card there!!
After that, we went to Meyer's, a huuuuge supermarket. I bet we spent more than an hour in each store, it was a really big shopping day!
When we got home, we helped Doug in the garage first - he built a corner thing for the bikes and tools and stuff like that and we helped him set up the whole frame - and then put all the groceries away.
Monday wasn't really exciting... in band, we watched our performance at the State Finals once again, and we got the stuff the band moms had found in our uniform and raincoat pockets... so now, it was definitely over. It still makes me so sad, I loved that time!
BUT band stuff really goes on for me! On Tuesday, we had our first hour of concert season. I didn't really have anything to play except a symbol and therefore, I wasn't really sure what to think about it but then Mr Kosi called the whole percussion group into the band office and he and Mr Conatan told us that they had too many percussionists and not enough wind instruments and they asked us whether some of us would be interested in learning a wind instrument. So later that hour, I talked to Mr Kosi again and told him I'd really like to learn another instrument, and I told him that I tried to play on trumpets, trombones, clarinets and saxophones before (good old Blaeserklasse times ;) ) and that I can't really handle the mouthpieces for trumpets and trombones and other instruments like that and that I'd prefer to learn a wood wind instrument. He said they'd talk about it and tell me on Wednesday.
On Wednesday though, Mr Kosi wasn't there. Mr Conatan didn't really seem to have much of a plan, he just sent me to look for a clarinet but all I found was empty cases and lonely, single clarinet pieces ^^
So today, I actually got to talk to Mr Kosi again and now he told me they don't really need clarinets but they could use more flutes and whether I wanted to try that. So, I got one of the school flutes and then they sent me in the practise rooms with one of the flute players (daaaaang it what was her name again?? well, she was in the drumline during marching season...) so she'd show me how to put the flute together, how to hold it and how to get a tone out of it. And she showed me my first 5 notes! She said I'm learning fast. I'm really proud that I already played some notes on the flute! I thought I'd never get a tone out of it.
So, now I'm becoming a flute player (an die Deutschen: flute ist nicht einfach nur Floete, sondern hier das Wort fuer Querfloete)! I'm happy, and excited.
Today, I practised about an hour in the afternoon... after that, my arms really hurt ^^ but I'm getting better :)
Come on, LMG flute players, leave me some comments and tips :P
Yesterday, Sheila and I took Courtney to her piano lesson and then we went to Payless, a shoe store similar to Deichmann, where I got the cutest winter boots (blackish/dark brown, with fake fur and tassels - "Bommel") and last night, while Michaela had her dancing lesson, Sheila and I went over to Walmart across the street where I got a winter coat (white, whith more fake fur ^^) and two more pairs of sweatpants (commmmmmfy!).
I'm happy new. Everything all new :)... "Chapter 2" of my exchange year :P well, maybe 3... the first one was probably the getting-used-to chapter before I got involved into anything.
Oh, and I looove the holiday season!
Halloween's just over, and Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming up :)
So, the first marking period is over (means we get report cards next week or so), marching season is over, and everything seems to start new. I like it, though... but I do miss marching band a lot.
So on Sunday, Sheila, Courtney and I went to church together and after that, we went on a biiig shopping tour. First Sheila stopped at the Fruit Market, then we went to Sam's Club which is... a store where you can just get ANYTHING from food and household equipment to electronics, clothes, books,... I finally found an international calling card there!!
After that, we went to Meyer's, a huuuuge supermarket. I bet we spent more than an hour in each store, it was a really big shopping day!
When we got home, we helped Doug in the garage first - he built a corner thing for the bikes and tools and stuff like that and we helped him set up the whole frame - and then put all the groceries away.
Monday wasn't really exciting... in band, we watched our performance at the State Finals once again, and we got the stuff the band moms had found in our uniform and raincoat pockets... so now, it was definitely over. It still makes me so sad, I loved that time!
BUT band stuff really goes on for me! On Tuesday, we had our first hour of concert season. I didn't really have anything to play except a symbol and therefore, I wasn't really sure what to think about it but then Mr Kosi called the whole percussion group into the band office and he and Mr Conatan told us that they had too many percussionists and not enough wind instruments and they asked us whether some of us would be interested in learning a wind instrument. So later that hour, I talked to Mr Kosi again and told him I'd really like to learn another instrument, and I told him that I tried to play on trumpets, trombones, clarinets and saxophones before (good old Blaeserklasse times ;) ) and that I can't really handle the mouthpieces for trumpets and trombones and other instruments like that and that I'd prefer to learn a wood wind instrument. He said they'd talk about it and tell me on Wednesday.
On Wednesday though, Mr Kosi wasn't there. Mr Conatan didn't really seem to have much of a plan, he just sent me to look for a clarinet but all I found was empty cases and lonely, single clarinet pieces ^^
So today, I actually got to talk to Mr Kosi again and now he told me they don't really need clarinets but they could use more flutes and whether I wanted to try that. So, I got one of the school flutes and then they sent me in the practise rooms with one of the flute players (daaaaang it what was her name again?? well, she was in the drumline during marching season...) so she'd show me how to put the flute together, how to hold it and how to get a tone out of it. And she showed me my first 5 notes! She said I'm learning fast. I'm really proud that I already played some notes on the flute! I thought I'd never get a tone out of it.
So, now I'm becoming a flute player (an die Deutschen: flute ist nicht einfach nur Floete, sondern hier das Wort fuer Querfloete)! I'm happy, and excited.
Today, I practised about an hour in the afternoon... after that, my arms really hurt ^^ but I'm getting better :)
Come on, LMG flute players, leave me some comments and tips :P
Yesterday, Sheila and I took Courtney to her piano lesson and then we went to Payless, a shoe store similar to Deichmann, where I got the cutest winter boots (blackish/dark brown, with fake fur and tassels - "Bommel") and last night, while Michaela had her dancing lesson, Sheila and I went over to Walmart across the street where I got a winter coat (white, whith more fake fur ^^) and two more pairs of sweatpants (commmmmmfy!).
I'm happy new. Everything all new :)... "Chapter 2" of my exchange year :P well, maybe 3... the first one was probably the getting-used-to chapter before I got involved into anything.
Oh, and I looove the holiday season!
Halloween's just over, and Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming up :)
11/03/2007
End of Marching Season
Oh my god I'm so sad :(
A really, really, REALLY amazing time is over.
Yesterday, we had our last normal practise. Well, actually it wasn't that normal since it was on a Friday and it was only 2 hours long but it was like, the last practise after which we went home and not to a competition.
Before the practise, there was a march off on the field. Every band member who wants to participate does some basic marching on the field, and the drum majors pick out those who make mistakes until one winner is left. I watched the beginning of it with some of the other pit people but didn't participate (I don't even know the commands). It looked like fun.
The practise was cold again but I really enjoyed it. Even in these few weeks that I've been in the band, even I have noticed how much all of us improved. How the show improved. It's amazing.
Today was the big day - Michigan State Finals!
Our practise at school started at 8am when it was still freeeeezing outside but that was alright. It was such a cool rehearsal. Everyone was focused but we all had fun at the same time, and everyone was hyper and pumped and excited about State Finals! Mr Hilton didn't yell at us once, he even said "Beautiful! Just beautiful!" a couple of times... he's so proud of us.
Around 10 or 10.30 or something, we started loading. When that was done, we ate lunch and got dressed and then, we went on the buses to leave the school for our one last competition this season.
The ride was short and we soon arrived in downtown Detroit.
Since there's not really a place to warm-up directly at the Ford Field stadium, we went to a parking lot a couple blocks away and kind of occupied it for our warm-ups within the sections. I was surprisingly calm but then again I was of course excited... it's hard to describe. I think what I want to say is that I wasn't really as nervous as I thought I'd be.
When the time had finally come, we had to move all our pit stuff to the stadium, across some busy streets... it went well though. Then, the difficult part came - the ramp! To get down to the field, we had to go down a looong car ramp that led into the stadium and at some points, it was really steep! Fortunately, there were many band moms and dads to help us with the pit equipment. The very last minutes before our performance were so awesome... full of tension and excitement. We did our last pit circle for this season - my last pit circle overall - that we always did before performances... we stood in a circle, arms around each other, put our left feet into the circle and somebody, usually Sarah, our section leader, or Laura or James, our instructors, would say something and then we would lower our hands over the nickle in the circle's middle (sometimes a real nickle, if noone had one, it was an imaginay nickle) and said "Nickle!".
Then we had to go out of the field. The 4 minutes we have to set up are always incredibly exciting - you have to set up everything so fast and pray to God that nothing is set up or connected wrong so that it causes trouble during the show. We made it though. Because we're awesome :)
I've never enjoyed playing the show so much. The audience was a lot larger than usual, the stadium was awesome and the energy of the music and the whole show just carries you. And the whole time, you have this thought in the back of your head - I'm playing in the State Finals, in one of Michigan's elite bands (that's what a judge called us last week)... I can be frickin' proud!!
After our performance, we had photos taken in the stands... professional photos of the whole band. Outside the stadium we had section pictures taken... the pit together with the battery. I'm definitely going to order those on the internet as soon as they are available.
We stayed for the awards, of course. We got 4th place and a really really good score. I'm so happy.
Back at the school, we unloaded (for the last time! :'( even that makes me sad...) after we had putten our uniforms back on the hangers... I'll miss this uniform. It made me really proud to wear it. Most people stayed a little after because we had a little "After-Finals-Party", meaning the band parents had made us an awesome food buffet once again and somebody had set up karaoke and guitar hero. Nobody stayed long but it was nice.
I found some more videos of our show on youtube... and I'm actually in them! You can see that the marching part and the pit (the standing people playing the standing instruments) are divided by a black wall. All the way to the right, in front of the wall, you might be able to recognize something like a syntheziser cart (just that black cart thing, looks like a table kind of) with 3 or 4 people standing behind it. I'm on the very left of those 3 or 4 people (the number depends on the show because we moved Tre at some point... but however, I'm always on the left of the synth cart, as seen from the audience's point of view). So here the videos are:
That was one of the best times of my life!!
A really, really, REALLY amazing time is over.
Yesterday, we had our last normal practise. Well, actually it wasn't that normal since it was on a Friday and it was only 2 hours long but it was like, the last practise after which we went home and not to a competition.
Before the practise, there was a march off on the field. Every band member who wants to participate does some basic marching on the field, and the drum majors pick out those who make mistakes until one winner is left. I watched the beginning of it with some of the other pit people but didn't participate (I don't even know the commands). It looked like fun.
The practise was cold again but I really enjoyed it. Even in these few weeks that I've been in the band, even I have noticed how much all of us improved. How the show improved. It's amazing.
Today was the big day - Michigan State Finals!
Our practise at school started at 8am when it was still freeeeezing outside but that was alright. It was such a cool rehearsal. Everyone was focused but we all had fun at the same time, and everyone was hyper and pumped and excited about State Finals! Mr Hilton didn't yell at us once, he even said "Beautiful! Just beautiful!" a couple of times... he's so proud of us.
Around 10 or 10.30 or something, we started loading. When that was done, we ate lunch and got dressed and then, we went on the buses to leave the school for our one last competition this season.
The ride was short and we soon arrived in downtown Detroit.
Since there's not really a place to warm-up directly at the Ford Field stadium, we went to a parking lot a couple blocks away and kind of occupied it for our warm-ups within the sections. I was surprisingly calm but then again I was of course excited... it's hard to describe. I think what I want to say is that I wasn't really as nervous as I thought I'd be.
When the time had finally come, we had to move all our pit stuff to the stadium, across some busy streets... it went well though. Then, the difficult part came - the ramp! To get down to the field, we had to go down a looong car ramp that led into the stadium and at some points, it was really steep! Fortunately, there were many band moms and dads to help us with the pit equipment. The very last minutes before our performance were so awesome... full of tension and excitement. We did our last pit circle for this season - my last pit circle overall - that we always did before performances... we stood in a circle, arms around each other, put our left feet into the circle and somebody, usually Sarah, our section leader, or Laura or James, our instructors, would say something and then we would lower our hands over the nickle in the circle's middle (sometimes a real nickle, if noone had one, it was an imaginay nickle) and said "Nickle!".
Then we had to go out of the field. The 4 minutes we have to set up are always incredibly exciting - you have to set up everything so fast and pray to God that nothing is set up or connected wrong so that it causes trouble during the show. We made it though. Because we're awesome :)
I've never enjoyed playing the show so much. The audience was a lot larger than usual, the stadium was awesome and the energy of the music and the whole show just carries you. And the whole time, you have this thought in the back of your head - I'm playing in the State Finals, in one of Michigan's elite bands (that's what a judge called us last week)... I can be frickin' proud!!
After our performance, we had photos taken in the stands... professional photos of the whole band. Outside the stadium we had section pictures taken... the pit together with the battery. I'm definitely going to order those on the internet as soon as they are available.
We stayed for the awards, of course. We got 4th place and a really really good score. I'm so happy.
Back at the school, we unloaded (for the last time! :'( even that makes me sad...) after we had putten our uniforms back on the hangers... I'll miss this uniform. It made me really proud to wear it. Most people stayed a little after because we had a little "After-Finals-Party", meaning the band parents had made us an awesome food buffet once again and somebody had set up karaoke and guitar hero. Nobody stayed long but it was nice.
I found some more videos of our show on youtube... and I'm actually in them! You can see that the marching part and the pit (the standing people playing the standing instruments) are divided by a black wall. All the way to the right, in front of the wall, you might be able to recognize something like a syntheziser cart (just that black cart thing, looks like a table kind of) with 3 or 4 people standing behind it. I'm on the very left of those 3 or 4 people (the number depends on the show because we moved Tre at some point... but however, I'm always on the left of the synth cart, as seen from the audience's point of view). So here the videos are:
That was one of the best times of my life!!
11/01/2007
Trick or Treat!
What a fun holiday! Why don't we have that in Germany??
So, on Tuesday was my special rehearsal thingy. We went to that dome thing (like these huge tent like things where concerts take place in because of the good sound in there) which was fun but the rehearsal was kind of hard because for the first time since I joined the band, we all screwed up during the ballet. It was just like, everyone suddenly had a different rythm. I think it was because of all the echoes in the dome, that really confuses.
We got home damn late, I was so tired.
Yesterday was Halloween.
Halloween is my new favourite holiday!! It is so much fun...
In Chemistry, we made slime and a photon show (all freaky and scary and halloweenish) with some little experiments. That was pretty cool.
In the afternoon, Courtney's friends Jessa and Chelsea came over. We got dressed, had dinner and then we left for trick or treating - which is awesome! On Halloween night, all the people have candy in their houses (TONS of candy!!) and some of them sit outside their decorated houses around little fire things, some adults even dress up. Then, kids and teens go around all dressed up with their Halloween bags (or, in our case, pillow cases ^^), go up to the houses, say "Trick or treat!" and get candy.
We 4 girls got sooo much candy... after about 2 hours, when we came back, we each had almost a whole pillow case full of candy. The little kids had had success, too - and now we have 3 huge bowls in the kitchen, all full of candy! Yummy!
Today, I had band practise again. It was earlier than usual because there was this banquet thing for the Seniors at school later, so rehearsal was from 2.45 to 5. Although the sun was shining, it got pretty cold outside again.
Tomorrow is my last band practise... that makes me really said. But I'm also soooooooo excited about State Finals on Saturday!!! It's gonna be huge and just amazing and so much fun. I don't want marching season to end though.
Alright, here are some Halloween pictures... the ones I took from myself aren't really good, that was when we came back... Sheila made some before we left, I'll ask her for them and put them on here, they show my whole costume when it was still in a good shape and not all messed up by the wind ^^
So, on Tuesday was my special rehearsal thingy. We went to that dome thing (like these huge tent like things where concerts take place in because of the good sound in there) which was fun but the rehearsal was kind of hard because for the first time since I joined the band, we all screwed up during the ballet. It was just like, everyone suddenly had a different rythm. I think it was because of all the echoes in the dome, that really confuses.
We got home damn late, I was so tired.
Yesterday was Halloween.
Halloween is my new favourite holiday!! It is so much fun...
In Chemistry, we made slime and a photon show (all freaky and scary and halloweenish) with some little experiments. That was pretty cool.
In the afternoon, Courtney's friends Jessa and Chelsea came over. We got dressed, had dinner and then we left for trick or treating - which is awesome! On Halloween night, all the people have candy in their houses (TONS of candy!!) and some of them sit outside their decorated houses around little fire things, some adults even dress up. Then, kids and teens go around all dressed up with their Halloween bags (or, in our case, pillow cases ^^), go up to the houses, say "Trick or treat!" and get candy.
We 4 girls got sooo much candy... after about 2 hours, when we came back, we each had almost a whole pillow case full of candy. The little kids had had success, too - and now we have 3 huge bowls in the kitchen, all full of candy! Yummy!
Today, I had band practise again. It was earlier than usual because there was this banquet thing for the Seniors at school later, so rehearsal was from 2.45 to 5. Although the sun was shining, it got pretty cold outside again.
Tomorrow is my last band practise... that makes me really said. But I'm also soooooooo excited about State Finals on Saturday!!! It's gonna be huge and just amazing and so much fun. I don't want marching season to end though.
Alright, here are some Halloween pictures... the ones I took from myself aren't really good, that was when we came back... Sheila made some before we left, I'll ask her for them and put them on here, they show my whole costume when it was still in a good shape and not all messed up by the wind ^^
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Good Night!
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