Christmas 2010, New Year’s 2011

I write this on December 31, 2010. Finished at 11:43 PM.

Christmas this year was poor. I mean, not that it sucked, just that we all got at least one gift. Mom received a sweater (which was unfortunately not the correct size so she gave it to Sarah) and a book. Dad received two boxes of M&Ms, two boxes of another candy, and a wire for the speakers. Sarah got $100 and a Christmas bear. I also got $100 and the Christmas bear. Although we got the Christmas bears a few weeks before because I was so worried about not getting one. It is practically a tradition now that every year (although it has not been every year) we get a Christmas bear. This year, our bears were blue just because mom’s favorite color this holiday was blue. I did not like it because our other bears are red and green. Mom and dad broke the tradition on the color of the bears. I would not care if Sarah’s bear was blue and mine was red and green. Well, I am not going to complain because at least I got a bear.

Guess what I did with my $100! I bought a Kindle from Amazon. I bought the $189 one because I get a FREE Wi-Fi connection from Amazon. The technology in that one to receive a signal is the same as that which is used in a cell phone. I had a $50 bill from the October wedding dad and I did. I said that I would not use it because it was the first time I had ever possessed a $50 bill. Mom and dad owed me thirty dollars because I had let them use my money that I received for turning in my books and keys. So that gave me $180. Dad gave me a ten because I had asked them if they could cover the last nine dollars for my Kindle. So, I ordered it on Friday (Sarah and I had received the money early Friday) after I had put all of the money I had received in the bank before noon because that was when they closed. I received it on Tuesday because it was two-day shipping. So far, I have forty books on my Kindle! I am so happy! I am obviously looking to put a lot more on it!

Quite unbelievably, there were tornadoes in the U.S. today! I could not believe it! December 31st, and there are tornadoes in the United States! Heck, even Jasper County was under a Tornado Watch earlier this afternoon! There were no other watches in the Michiana area.

New Year’s Eve/Day was, I do not know, suck-y. Sarah went out; Mom was watching a channel for the New Year’s Eve/Day celebration. I think it is channel 57. I prefer to watch 16 because they show other countries celebrating as the hour approaches; Dad has most likely fallen asleep on the couch already; and I am sitting here, in my room, listening to music on my MP3, and writing this.

Well, I must go so that I can finish and start the year being bored with nothing to do.

Last Day of Class!

Whew! I am so exhausted! I can’t believe that today is the last day of class. Well, that is, without including exams. I only have two more classes today. Unfortunately, instead of getting to stay home all day tomorrow, I have to go back up to school to pick up my yearbook. For French, I had the choice to do the oral part of the exam either tomorrow or Thursday, and I decided to do it tomorrow after I pick up my yearbook that way I could get one part of exams taken care of. As they say, “Kill two birds with one stone.” Wednesday, I do not have any exams so that means I can stay home all day! On Thursday, I have the written part of my French exam at 3:30. At least I will not have to leave home until about quarter to three. On Friday, I have my History exam. Unfortunately, it is at eight in the morning. That means that I am going to have to get up at 6:30 or 6:40 at the latest. I have not been up that early for school in several months, if not over a year. Well, I just can’t wait to be done with the exam on Friday because I can go home directly after (hopefully I can be done by nine) and I do not have to worry about school anymore! Well, for four weeks instead of three!

It has been snowing. I am so excited that it is. But I do not expect there to be much snow this year just like last year. What I mean is that last year, the news kept on saying, “Oh, we are going to get ten inches of snow tonight and into tomorrow.” I wake up the next morning and there is barely a dusting on the ground. So, when my parents say that we are supposed to get ten inches or something, I am like, “Yeah. I will believe it when I see it.” Last year, when Michigan was getting all of the snow or somewhere west, I would tell my parents, “Let’s move to (wherever it was that got snow).” Obviously, as you can probably tell, my favorite season is winter. I love the snow, Christmas (you can’t have Christmas without snow), and the trees behind the house when it snows. Such beauty. Another thing that I also love is the fact that when you get home, you can make some hot cocoa. You can even add marshmallows if you want! Ooh, now I am making myself thirsty for some! The only thing that I do not like is the wind. Now that is terrible during the winter. Maybe during the summer when it is a hundred degrees out because it can help cool you down, just a tad bit, but not during the winter when it is ten degrees out. Sigh. Well, that is the price people have to pay during their favorite season.

Happy Thanksgiving! 2010

Well, I am a few days late on posting this, but when am I ever on time? Thanksgiving was good, until Sarah had to go and ruin it. Mom had made noodles and used the broth from chicken soup and a can of Cream of Chicken. Well, Mom had asked Sarah how it was, and Sarah basically said that it sucked and that she (mom) should stick to the usual way of making noodles. And then, several minutes later, when a song from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra came on, Sarah asked me if I remember blah, blah, blah, and I was like, “Yes, Sarah! I know!” Then she left the front room to go to her room. Every single time that song comes on, she always has to ask me the same question. It is really annoying. It is just as bad as dad telling me the same story or something every week. I know, people! Leave me alone! Whenever someone says something to me that I heard a million times before, I tell them that I know in an irritated voice because 1) I am irritated for being for a million and two times and 2) I know! It is so annoying.

We watched A Christmas Carol. The version with Jim Carrey. It reminds me of the black and white version from 1951. That is my favorite one. I have seen a few versions of A Christmas Carol and the 1951 version is by far the best. For dinner, I had turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, noodles, and deviled eggs. Later, I had a slice of ice cream cake, cucumbers, carrots, ranch, strawberries, and grapes. And that does not include what I drank (which was only a few cans of Sierra Mist). Other than all of the food and watching a movie and Sarah being a brat, it was a decent Thanksgiving.

Also, the Christmas lights in the house were on. There were the lights on: the tree, two of the windows, the two hanging from the ceiling, and the one in my room. When I got up, I watched Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. At one point, when it went on a commercial break, I went into my room and took the three foot Christmas tree out of my closet. I took it out to the front room and turned the lights on. One by one, between nine and eleven-thirty, Dad, Mom, and Sarah woke up. When I got home last night (Sunday), I saw that the lights in the window that has the air conditioner was on.

On Saturday, we got a puppy. Her name is Indie. She is Sarah’s dog. She is only about six weeks old. She is cute and very playful. She tries to play with our other dog, Peyton, but he keeps on getting away from her. The only time when they will be near each other is when one or both of them are asleep.

After today, I only have seven more days of school. I am so excited to go on break. A well-deserved break nonetheless. A four week well-deserved break, that is.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Yay!! It is that time of the year! No, I am not talking about Thanksgiving or Christmas or New Year’s (although I shall make a post after each holiday). What I am talking about is something that I have been waiting for for over a year. It is – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1!! Monday, I watched Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Tuesday, I watched Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Wednesday, I watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Right now, I am watching Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I always watch all of the movies in order the week that the latest movie comes out. Next year, the seven days before Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 comes out, I am going to watch all seven movies in order before we go see the movie. Hopefully I can force myself to watch one movie per day rather than watching two or three of them a day. Then that would mean that I am going to be bored for the rest of the week.

Tomorrow, I pray to the good Lord that I can see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 with my parents and sister. We always see the movies together. Unfortunately, mom has to work Saturday and Sunday so we have to see it tomorrow. Dad says that if the line at the theater extends to, say, a mile, we are not going to go see it. It totally sucks because we always see the latest movie the weekend it comes out. I do not want to wait a week before the four of us can see the movie.

For the past few days, when I have been watching clips of interviews that the actors and actresses give and they mention that there is only one more movie, one more trip down the Red Carpet, and other things, I sit there, and I want to cry. I have grown up reading and watching Harry Potter. I guess that you can say that it my life. I have been looking forward to it, like, every year. Whether it is a book or a movie.

Also, I have been skimming information on some of the characters from the books. An example would be that, not even ten minutes ago, I read information on Draco Malfoy. I am so in love with Tom Felton who plays Draco. AAAHHH!!! There he is! I think I am going to faint over my love for him. Tee hee hee. Oh, no! The Death Eaters have just infiltrated Hogwarts!

I do not know what I am going to do with my life after the second part comes out. I am not going to have anything to look forward to to read or to watch. Okay! Back to the movies!

I hope to God that both parts are going to be almost exactly like the book. I also hope that they include a lot of parts from Severus Snape’s past. I am really looking forward to both parts. And obviously I am going to cry like a baby when I see both parts. I cried a million times while I was reading the seventh book so I know that I am going to cry a million times during both movies.

God bless God for tissues!!

Now on to the countdown!

July 22, 2010 = Sad Day for My Family

Tomorrow is going to be a sad day. It is my Grandmother’s (my dad’s mom’s) funeral. She died this past Sunday before my parents, my sister, Sarah, and I could get the chance to go see her in the hospital. And we found out that she is to be buried as close as possible to my baby brother, Justin, whom Mom unfortunately had a miscarriage with. She was only five months along with him. If he was to be alive and went through till full-term, he would be seventeen right now.

It made my parents cry with shock when they found out that she is to be buried by Justin. After all of these years, my grandmother never forgot about him. She made the decision of where to be buried in 2001. And no one knew a thing about it until all of us that were at the hospital found out on Sunday. No one! I have told myself that Grandma is a God-send to my parents, my sister, and me because she is with Justin now. Physically, that is. After the funeral, Mom, Dad, Sarah, and I, and probably my aunt, her family, my uncles, and one of my uncle’s family are supposed to go visit Justin’s grave. I told Mom on Sunday that now we have a reason to at least go to the cemetery once a year because Grandma and Justin are buried in the same cemetery. And also, they are buried in Illinois and we live out in Indiana. Before, we would (unfortunately and very rude of us) go to Justin’s grave once every few or five years.

And what is giving my aunt and Dad comfort is that Dad has said that Grandma is with Grandpa. He died a little over thirty-three years ago.

I hope that at the funeral and the burial, there will be no problems at all. There is this one guy that my dad, aunt, and uncles do not like at all because he has done wrong by the entire family, especially Grandma.

It sucks that this is another death my parents, Sarah, and I have to go through. In December of 2008, we had to put our first dog down. In June of 2009, my Grandmother (mom’s mom) passed away. In May of this year (2010), we had to put our second dog down. And now, in July of 2010, my grandmother has passed away. And then, within the next year or so, my Great-Grandma (mom’s grandma) is most likely going to pass away because she is in her mid-90s. And then within the next few years or so, my grandfather (mom’s dad) is going to pass away.

It is going to be one sad day for all of us, especially Grandma’s five children.

Summer & School

Here I am, in the beginning of July. The temperature is so hot. Unfortunately, I can’t have my air conditioning on in my room during the day because the one in the front room is on and having both on will trip a circuit. So, right now, I am laying on my bed right in front of my desk fan. Even with the fan on, it is so hot because it is only blowing warm air on me.

Next weekend, my parents and I are going to my aunt’s house in Illinois. Unfortunately, also next weekend, my dad and I have to work. It is an outdoor event. So, yes, we will be out in the blazing sun, dying of thirst.

My sister is out of state. She is visiting a friend in Florida or Georgia or somewhere down there. She will be returning either Saturday or Sunday. It is peaceful without her here.

School starts back up in early September. I am so excited, not because it is school, but because after this year is over, I only have one more year of school. And then, I am officially done with school. Right now, I am holding off on an internship until next year because I want to get most of my classes that I have to have for my general education, major, and minor done.

I figure that a month or so before I graduate college, I will turn in a lot of résumés. I will turn them into radio stations, news stations, and papers. I have worked on the school’s newspaper doing copy editing, the school’s news helping record the show, and during Fall Semester, I hope to work at the school’s radio station. I want to get as much experience as I can that way I can decide on what area I want to work in. Right now, I have absolutely no idea of what I want to work in. if I can or if I am able to, I would not mind working in Mishawaka at the South Bend Tribune, News 22, and Sunny 101.5, just because they are in the same building.

I told a classmate of mine from high school that I am going to stop wanting to get a boyfriend while in college. I told her that, now, I am going to concentrate on finishing my classes, graduating, and finding a good job. I also told her that if I get a boyfriend before I graduate, then good for me. Right now, I do not have the time to look for relationships. I mean, graduation is closing in on me. I know that I have a little under two years to go before graduating, but now is the crucial time where I need to make sure I get all of my classes and credits in. And then there is finding a job. Right now, relationships are out the window for me. As I said, if I get a boyfriend before I graduate, then good for me, I just can’t expect or hope that it will last. And then my classmate asked me if she was speaking to the real me. Because up until then, I was always about finding a relationship. Well, it took a good meeting with my major advisor over classes and a good kick in the bum of the time to realize that I should not be thinking about boys. Classes. Graduation. Work. Those are the things I should be worrying about. A year or so after graduation and/or working, I can start worrying about relationships and all.

Many Things

First of all, last month was my birthday. I turned twenty-one. Just like last year, it started out sucking. And unlike last year, it stayed that way. I slightly recall something about my dad being mad at “my dog,” and that is what made me mad. I could not wait to go to school for an organ recital. At least it got me a few hours out of the house. And my day ended sucking.

Second of all, I finished the school year, including exams, last Wednesday. The unfortunate thing is that I have May Term. It starts Wednesday and goes for three weeks. And then, it is officially summer break! I cannot wait.

Third of all, speaking of summer break, I have to work a few days after my last day of May Term and then again in June. But then I do not have to work again (so far as I know) until October. But my job is not a usual one. If you heard or participated in what I do, I think that you would understand why I hate having to work, let alone hate it when my uncle calls (he is the manager).

Fourth of all, this coming school year, I will be a junior in college. And by the end of May Term next year (because I am scheduled for it once again), I will be two credits into being a senior. And then I only have to get twenty-nine more credits (hopefully I can get it done in two semesters rather than having a May Term for the fourth year in a row). And then? Graduation!! You know? I am the first person to go to college (well, my aunt was the first), continue through it (something my aunt did not do), and graduate. I am making history in my family. I am happy for that.

Fifth of all, this guy that I know, he has a picture of him and my sister as his MySpace icon or whatever the heck you call it. I am so unhappy. When I saw that, I wanted to cry.

A little over an hour ago, I texted him and asked if he had anymore of the sake. So, he brought some over. Why? Because I needed a drink. Unfortunately, he did not bring over enough. I could still go for more. I was so in the mood to get drunk or something because I kept on listening to Drowning Pool, Disturbed, and Three Days Grace because it fit my mood at the time. And that made me want to get drunk or something. Now, I do not drink at all. But seeing the picture and hearing the two songs he has on his play list on his MySpace pushed me to wanting some sake. So, here I am. Still wanting more.