Easter Monday

day off, yay :)

spent far too much time on Facebook/blogs "catching up" on the past 47 days... rendering said 47 days pretty much useless.

that said...

Things I Learned From Lent 2011

1. I don't need Facebook in order to breathe
2. I don't need Facebook in order to maintain a social life
3. I miss reading people's blogs more than their social networking pages
4. There are many ways to waste time that do not involve recreational internet
5. ...and I will do my best to find each and every one of them, because I am a lazy girl who does not want to do work
6. My bedroom is very messy
7. I don't have as much self-control as I thought I did
8. Prayer journals are the way to go!
9. I like early mornings for getting homework done
10. I still don't like TV

...and as for the thing I learned today? Facebook is detrimental to getting things done, especially on a day the whole school has off and proceeds to spend commenting on/liking all of the pictures you posted from your trip to Europe, so when you sign off for 5 minutes and get back on you have 21 notifications, all from the same person. True story.

Thus, I have decided to make tomorrow a Special Circumstances Facebook Free Tuesday. Let's see how long that lasts.

Smile: I have my frizz-halo back! :D

Kathryne

change

1. Back from Europe
2. Back on the internet
3. Seriously jet-lagged
4. Sudden distaste for American-Italian food
5. Officially attending University of Notre Dame next year
6. Sprained and/or fractured my wrist* when I skipped the 8:30 service this morning to eat and go hiking... karma.
7. Otherwise, really enjoyed the 6:30 sunrise (c.f. #3) and 10:30 regular Easter services
8. THIS WEATHER <3
9. Is it not frustrating yet wonderful when someone much cleverer than you articulates an idea you already had but in a more beautiful way? (see: C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, "Time and Beyond Time")
10. Must have lists of 10. So here are some pictures. (click to see larger)

Kathryne

*It was actually really funny. I was doing just fine... in my ankle-length skirt and flats, along nice little ledges of mud approximately the width of my foot... until we got to a wide flat easy part. I stepped over a log, onto some leaves, and fell completely flat on my side/face/leg in less than a second. I'm pretty sure it was the least graceful thing I could have done, and, to top it off, afterwards one wrist bone was (is) pointed about 15 degrees from where it ought to be. As I said... KARMA.

Disneyyyy!

I know nothing about American television (don't watch it), American movies (rarely watch them), American literature (don't read it), or American music (does Regina Spektor count?)... and I am at a loss for my senior thesis. Catcher in the Rye depressed me so much that I my faux-idea for a thesis is not going to happen. SO... I realized that the one (small) link I have to American culture is Disney.

So I am going to do something about Disney.

It might actually relate to what I want to do in college. WHEE!

Kathryne

Dinner :)

We had 17 people over for dinner tonight. Yyyyyikes.

It was fun. The food was really good.

I Learned...

I ought to play Boggle more often. I need to work myself up to a level at which I can actually be competitive. For competitive I am truly not, right now.

Kathryne

Something I Learned

I am killing the "Good/Bad/Random" form for a while. I am going back to "something that made me smile," plus the new "I Learned..." section. I do enjoy learning things, so I am setting out to learn something every day, even if that means random internet research.

SO, I am making serious progress in my college stuff. WHEE!! (No, really, that's exciting. Now I'm only 1 week behind schedule instead of two-and-a-half. And I will finish tomorrow!! :D)

I Learned...

"Gaol" (as in, awesome poem by Oscar Wilde, "The Ballad of Reading Gaol") is actually pronounced the same as "jail." Weird.

Kathryne

ouch

The Good: gorgeous day today. I mean, REALLY BEAUTIFUL. Like, high 50s-low 60s.

The Bad: I took Tag out today... I was on my bike and he was trotting leashless alongside me. Then, from behind one of the houses, there comes a 7 or 8 year old boy holding his dog by the collar. Now, I am sure the dog weighs more than he does, and it looks sort of like a cross between

and

...but bigger. As Tag saunters up to this dog, tail wagging as always, I get off my bike and tell the boy, "don't worry, he's friendly." Just as the boy starts to say, "oh, so is he," this dog snarls and lunges at Tag. I don't remember how, but I got Tag away.

However, I was pretty well-caught in the crossfire myself. Let's just say that my thumb really hurts and has lost some blood.

Then I give up on the walk, bring Tag home, and wash/sanitize/bandage my thumb.

The Random: THEN I went on a 5.5 mile bike trip to school to get my Physics textbook! ...yyayy... and sorta blacked out halfway home. But I didn't pass out! I kept going! Huzzah!

I believe I shall consult not only the distance but also the severity of hills before I undertake any such trips in the future.

Kathryne

PS- is my blacking out a sign of not being in shape or of not having enough food/water in my system or of it being a stupid idea for me to do any strenuous physical activity at all?

music makes me happy :)

Lots of great things today.

This morning I played piano for Megan's chorus at her church. We did The Precious Blood. I was happy, because I learned that piece for school. It was the one that convinced me that learning to read music might actually be a good thing and chords are not always the answer.

And even though I goofed a few times and the girls made it suuuuper slow, it still was received very well.

Then there was the CYMA leaders' debrief, but that is unrelated.

THEN I went into one of the upstairs rooms at church and continued teaching myself Eet. Before you ask-

• yes it is Regina Spektor,
• no it is not easy,
• yes it is in C# major,
• no I do not like to abandon a project once started, and
• yes I do rue the day I decided to start it.

It wants me to stretch the fingers on one hand more than an octave! I have little hands, okay?!

Then there was practice for the evening service at church. My church. hehe. And, before you ask-

• yes it was fun,
• no I did not know more than 4 of the songs,
• yes I can fake it pretty well,
• no I could not hear myself,
• yes Mr Phil is one of my new favorite people,
• and no I do not mind if people know that. OKAY?! :P

I like those people.

Now I am at home listening to more music and wishing that I had had more initiative when I was younger and had time to learn all these cool instruments... it seems as I get older there is hardly anything to learn for which I have both opportunity and drive. So I must amend that, somehow. I can cut stuff out. Like sleep.

Kathryne

PS- give way to the coral >:)

Book Club!

yay :)

I had my first book club meeting with my telepathic triplets! We went to Panera for 2.4 hours and discussed Jane Eyre... well, for mayyybe an hour of the time. And then we just caught up on life. Talked about Oscar... real teenagers... why real teenagers would not talk about Oscar ;)... modesty... leadership... gender roles... and other things. I love you guys!

ALSO! laptop is now fully functional!

Kathryne

PS- Jane is an INFJ, for the record.

Ambition!

Yay!

So, Thursday, my Headmaster approached me about the "End of the Year Celebration" (read: Awards Ceremony). Since our little choir was so fabulous on Monday, he wants us to do do two songs at the end of the year thing. New songs. 2.5 weeks to prepare.

I'm like, okay, cool. Good songs. What Wondrous Love is This (amazing a cappella) and The Precious Blood (Sovereign Grace).

Unfortunately... well... I am the only one who halfway plays piano. So, I have to alltheway play piano. And while I don't need to worry about the a cappella beauty of WWLiT, The Precious Blood has a HARD piano part. Okay, it isn't that bad. But it's hard for a girl who only reads music for singing (so, can sight read the treble clef) and only took one year of lessons. And it's hard to play while singing.

I considered just using the chords and making up something half-decent like I usually do.

BUT.

I worked on it.

And worked.

And worked.

In fact, that's what I've been doing with all my free time.

And I think I have it!

And, yes, pride is a bad thing, but I am glad I stuck it out. It isn't great, but it's better than the cheat way :P

Kathryne

PS- Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Latin Class (again)

So, Wednesdays are ICK. I've said that before.

We have:

Math (80 min)

Break (10 min)

History (80 min)

Student Gov't/Lunch (30 min)

Chem Lab (90 min)

Break (10 min)

Latin (80 min)

...needless to say, by the time we get to Latin, we are all tired, loopy, and slap-happy.

Out of that come things like (not in order) :

"Cicero says that teachers sit on their students who have drinking problems and red-yellow eyes!"

-Rachel

"A red-yellow is an orange, DOOFUS!"

-Megan

"I don't see why I have to suffer for Katie's incompetence!"

-Rachel (?)

...and, of course, Megan's drinking problem... *coughcough*alloverhershirt*coughcough*

AND! We got to have a meeting for our Upper School girls' ensemble DURING Student Gov't!!!

AND!!! I get to go to bed now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First time I've been to bed before midnight in over a week :D

Kathryne

*forgot*

So, in Latin today we learned that Southern grammar is actually closer to the correct Latin grammar than anyone else.

For example, one sentence was translated, "He gave them books to y'all." (technically, it was "you all," but I digress)

ALSO, I tried out super-conjunctions on my Brit Lit teacher (they'ven't ... couldn't've... hehe). That didn't go over well, but I got a reaction =D

Kathryne

Snow Day!

So, I haven't been feeling so great lately.

My mom & I tried to find a day when I could stay home and "recuperate."

Unfortunately, at school I have tests all the time, and stuff I can't miss, and stuff I don't want to miss.

I was at my breaking point by last night, so my mom was going to keep me home today whether I liked it or not. I wake up after a good 11-hour sleep (10:15-9:15) to find out that... school is cancelled! YES! THIS is why I go to private school! =P

Then I came downstairs and started working on some stuff for my Brit Lit teacher. She wanted a sort of summary of all of my comprehensive MBTI knowledge (--semi-sarcasm), so I'm typing her up a... uh... "summary." A long one. Anyone who knows me knows that this is one of my "pet subjects," and I just have fun with it =)

So... yeah. that made me happy.

Then I wanted lunch (I may have lost my appetite, but by gum you know I've got to eat!), so I made myself Ramen. Did you know that one pack of Chicken flavored Ramen noodles contains 70% of your recommended daily salt intake? Yeah... uhh... we'll just pretend I didn't see that.

Oscar Wilde Quote of the Day:

"Religion? The fashionable substitute for Belief... skepticism is the beginning of Faith."

Kathryne

More Depressing Hilarity

Good gravy, grading papers gives me a case of the belly laughs!

(when I think about what these freshmen consider good grammar... oy vey! the future of the country is not terribly bright! ...just kidding)

I mean, generally in a 3-point paper (one main argument => 3 points => 3 supporting examples for each) you do not want to use point #3 as an example for point #2, and then turn around and use point #2 as an example for point #3!!!! GAHH!!!!!!

It makes me want to tear my hair out and spin around in whirling-dervish fashion, spitting and growling and ripping things, laughing the whole way!

PS- finished The Picture of Dorian Gray last night!! J'ADORE!!! perrrrfect ending.

PPS- Winter Formal tonight =)

Oscar Wilde Quote of the Day:

"One has a right to judge of a man by the effect he has over his friends."

Kathryne

!!!!!

(usually I wait until the day is over, but...)

Despite the fact that today is Wednesday, and Wednesdays are horrendous...

Student Gov't, Chemistry, Calculus, and a bunch of other stuff that assigns lots of WORK...

today a looottttt of things made me smile.

Start at the beginning? yes let's.

-overslept an hour

-was only 40 minutes late

-understood the math lesson

-got all my math homework done in school (well, 95% of it...)

-had a (literally) hysterical AP World class

-new and improved Yurtle the Turtle!

-"There were some insects who were helpful to farmers" "You mean like mice?"

-RODENTS!

-found out that there are several (and when I say several I mean like 7) out of the 35-ish categories for my school network's fine arts competition that I might actually stand a chance in

-...like the Sacred/Classical vocal solo

-...and digital photography

-...and Vocal Ensemble

-...and chalk pastels. I *heart* chalk pastels.

[Nothing good about SGA or Chem]

-finished Latin work early

-did other homework

-found occasion to use some witty comments I keep in the "WBWC" (World Bank of Witty Comments)

-set up an interview for my summer maybe-job!!!!

AAAAAAaaaaaAAAAAAH!!

(that was a happy screech)

Then I got an email saying that the youth who participated in the youth service this summer are probably going to get an opportunity to do it AGAIN, for a church in Westminster.

a) how did these people find out about us?

b) I so want to do it again!!! Even if it did almost kill me the first time!!!

c) Definition of insanity~ Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result

d) I'm not insane, because I am TOTALLY expecting it to kill me again =)

...And now I have voice lessons (LOVE!)

And then Praise Team practice (LOOVVEEE again!)

Kathryne

Take a *RISK*

Today I played RISK for the first time.

(with Christine and some other awesome people)

I can't say I crushed, creamed, or beat anybody into the ground... but neither can I say that I lost, because I won =)

(Actually, we had to end early, and I just happened to have all of Asia and Australia)

beginner's luck, sure... but still fun.

Christmas song of the day:

No Eye Had Seen, by Amy Grant (feat. Michael W Smith)

Kathryne

YESYESYES!!!

sorry for no updates.

Tuesday- got contacts =) + awesome sleepover. SMILES BY THE BUCKET.

Wednesday- found out I not only passed a Chem test, I got an A!! woohoo!!

Thursday- sang my solo at cantata rehearsal and got away with writing the lyrics on my hand!

Today- finally was able to remove my contacts without great pain and difficulty. That's points. ANDDDD I'm almost done re-reading Pride and Prejudice, which I really started Tuesday. I LOVE THAT BOOK.

I'm overall in a very good mood. I had a half-day; Math and Teacher's Aide, then Chorus.

Christmas song of the day:

Good Christian Men Rejoice, by no artist in particular.

(I'm going to start a band called "no artist in particular." done.)

Kathryne

How dorky am I?

What made me smile today was... ahem...

my book I'm reading for junior thesis.

ouch.

19th Century Russian Literature.

Today I read the chapter on Dostoyevsky (probably one of my favorite authors), and it was SO amazing and insightful and just SMILEY =)

Swing was tonight and I hung out with a future-celebrity (hilarious: he WILL have his own talk show... in 6 or 7 years when he's finished graduating stuff. yeah, he's a sophomore.)

Christmas song of the day:

Noel, by Selah

Kathryne

Well...

I didn't fail my Chemistry test TOO badly... only a 70 =/

Although, the look on people's faces when they found out that I failed a test was priceless. They never saw that one coming.

That made me smile... a little.

Christmas song of the day:

Do You Hear What I Hear, by Martina McBride

Kathryne

Psychology fun =)

I, heart, psychology. I absolutely love it.

personality profiling?

sign me up.

psychoanalyzing random things?

yep.

today was just a full day of it.

"*For the record* using two periods at the end of a sentence is the EPITOME of indecisiveness. It says, "Am I an accidental double period? Or am I am incomplete ellipsis?" It has no self-esteem; no definitive. There you go-- I just psychoanalyzed your punctuation.."

read it... live it... THANK you.

Kathryne

Playin' Around

I *heart* GarageBand. End of story. Any software that can make a pennywhistle sound like a bagpipe is TOPS.

Kathryne