The Post You've All Been Waiting For...

Okay, this took me so long to post because I was just...unnervingly busy the last four weeks of summer. Also, I've been assimilating into being a senior.

Well, I'll go over my summer first, in chronological order. My last post was about Warped, so I'll go from there.

In July, I went to New Orleans. I was going for the Lutheran Church: Missouri Synod National Youth Gathering (also known as the LCMS NYG). If you don't know what LCMS is, it's a branch of Lutheranism. The National Youth Gathering is a well, gathering, of over 25,000 Lutheran teenagers. It happens every three years, and I was so excited that it was in New Orleans. I'd never been there, and I was excited to try real Cajun food, hearing a street jazz band, and walk through the French Quarter. I got to do all three! I got to hear a brass jazz band...on Bourbon Street. Soooooo awesome. I walked down Bourbon with our group at like, 10:00 on a Friday night. WHOLE lotta drunks. It was surreal walking to and from the Super Dome (where the mass event was every night; the mass event is the only time where all the people attending the Gathering are in the same place). We did a service the last night of the Gathering (not our last night in NOLA--New Orleans), with all 25,000 people. It was, hands down, the most powerful event I have ever witnessed. Seeing everone take communion was amazing. I can't even describe the service to you guys, because it would not serve it justice. It was the most amazing thing ever. EVER. Sorry for the lack of eloquence there, but I'm at a loss for words just thinking about it. I heard many awesome speakers, including a mother of a girl who died at 18 years old in a car accident, not even a year before the Gathering, also a woman explaining the terrors of STDs, devoid of an in-your-face religious approach. So excellent. Other memorable instances of the trip were making friends with the girls from Kansas (I love them!), eating at Emeril Lagasse's restaurant NOLA, and becoming really close friends with Virginia, Jenna and Dan.

In August, I went to California. The main intent of the trip was to attend my cousin Mark's wedding. The wedding was GORGEOUS, and on a perfect day. I looked excellent, because I gotta new shirt, some new shoes (so awesome), and a new tie. Haha, not to be cocky... :P But I love Elise, his bride, 'cause she's so nice. But the secondary reason we went to visit some colleges, specifically UC Berkeley and Stanford. I did NOT like Berkeley. It was a FANTASTIC school, but it was just soooooooo ugly. And I didn't like that housing was only guaranteed for two years. And that it's a state school, so I'd get NO financial aid. Also, they would be the only school that I'd be applying to that doesn't use the CommonApp. So ridic. BUT ON THE BRIGHTER SIDE: Stanford. Let it sink in: Stanford. It is God's gift to college-bound students. It is THE perfect school. It's gorgeous on so many levels. They have the best website I've visited while researching colleges (http://www.stanford.edu). I visited on a cloudless, sunny day, 78 degrees outside. The breathtaking palm trees, stucco-and-red-brick architecture are just...agh. Coolest fact: At the Beijing Olympics in 2008, 49 students and alum from Stanford particapted, and 25 won medals. So cool, right? Also, the have the number one (yeah, #1) biology and chemistry departments in the country. Considering the fact that those are two of the most important subjects in ANY major I'm going into, it's MY college. I need to go there. I love the area, the 8,190 acre campus...everything. Please, God, let me get in there. I've worked SO hard for it. I need it. :)

My last four weeks of summer consisted of NOTHING but summer work. So much Bio, Chem, English... ugh. I did get to go see The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, with Morgan (Markel). It was so much fun walikng around Times Square with her. She's really one of my best friends, since sixth grade. We've been through so much together, and I'm really missing her right now. She's in Michigan, at Interlochen, an art school. She deserves it though, it'll open up so many doors for her future in music. I love her. :)

I read my favorite book over the summer: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. I'm not gonna talk about it, besides that you should read it.

School is AWESOME this year. I'll go through my schedule:

A period: AP Calculus AB. I love this class. I like math a lot, I got 100 on the first two quizzes, and Mr. Williams--the teacher--is so delightfully mad. I'm excited for the rest of the year.

B period: AP Biology. If you were to look up "sweetheart" in the dictionary, Ms. Pawul's picture would be right next to the definition. She's amazing, and makes the subject so awesome.

C period: AP Chemistry. This is probably going to be my favorite class of the year. I love Mr. Tyler, so much. And chem is easily my favorite subject to study. I also think I was the only one to get a 100 on the first test. But I'm not sure.

D period: Honors Physics. Honestly, I'm still bitter I have this class. I know I needed to take physics for college reasons, but I'm still pissed I don't have AP French V during this period. But the Buckster (Mr. Buckley) isn't too bad. And it's the easiest class ever. Jussayin'.

E period: Labs and Jazz Ensemble. I have labs for my three science classes Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and I have jazz the other two days.

F period: AP English: Literature and Composition. I love Randy TeVelde. We started off the year by watching a clip from Inglourious Basterds. 'Nuff said.

G period: Wind Ensemble. I love being Drum Major. I love leading. I hate how PK doesn't give me any credit for the unbelievable amount of work I put into everything. It really ticks me off. SO much. But, he's usually a cool dude. I just, wish I would get a little appreciation. But I can do without.



So, that's it I guess. I'm not gonna talk about people too much here, because I don't like the drama. I am happy Morgan (Drewniany; best friend) and Andrew broke up. Is that bad? She was so unhappy so much of the time they were dating, and now he's acting like her boyfriend, but without the title. I mean, c'mon. Choose one dude. You can't have her as more than a friend without the title. Back off, 'cause I'm gonna get really defensive really soon.







I hope you liked this post everyone! Now that this big one is outta the way, I can start posting regularly now. Woot!