End

I will be starting a new blog tomorrow, so I will not post today. 

So long for now!!

Fun day. Ish.

Well, I woke up today earlier than I wanted. Or needed. It took me a while to finally go back to sleep, and it was only for maybe an hour. Then I had to get ready for choir practice for church tomorrow. It went pretty well, but one of the guys, who is the drum major at Mayfield, asked for the drum major at Centennial's number so he could contact her. I didn't have it, but resolved to get it. 

When that was done, our sister took us to the new Dunkin' Donuts that just opened here. Here are a few pics. 

They were awesome. Not Pro's Ranch good, but still. 

We got back home, and my mom started getting ready for one of her cousin's daughter's wedding. We helped her pick out a dress and jewelry. 

After that, our brother took us to go play some tennis. Well, not really, since we are just beginners. We taught Ari what we learned, and tried to work on our serves. After about an hour, our other brother and his daughter came with food and drinks. We left shortly after that, and Rene took us to go get custard from Caliches, but I got a hot dog. 

We came home and watched some tv. After a while, we decided to watch Tangled, my favorite movie. Ari made some Ramen noodles, and my niece ate some. However, she dropped some on her dad. It was in a really awkward place, too. It wasn't that bad, but still. 

We finished watching the movie, and I still haven't done my exercises. 

So long for now!!

Dirty

Today I woke up at 8 so I could get ready for orchestra. I was really tired, but I didn't want to miss the last day. Our brother told me that he would be taking us to camp. Since my mom didn't have to, she made us some awesome pancakes. It felt like Sunday to me, especially because last week's comics was on the table. 

We got to camp earlier than usual, so we got there with all the others and even before our teacher, though only by a little. We started with tuning. Mr. Rivera had us un-tune our A strings, and then try to tune it back again. I was always a little flat, so I will need to work on that. After we got that string, we worked on the others. I wish more of our orchestra had gone to this camp. The orchestra on a whole would really benefit from the tuning exercises we have learned. 

Next, Mr. Rivera had us practice the c melodic minor one octave scale because we will need to play a three octave scale for the All-State auditions. He had us play the first note of the scale and then sing it. We did the same for all the notes in the scale until we could sing it in tune. We got pretty good. Not choir good, but still. After that, Mr. Rivera had one student play out of tune with the rest of us for the scale, so that we could see how one person can effect the whole orchestra. 

When we finished with that, we worked on rhythms. We focused I cut time and mixed meters. It was relatively easy, but the two stuck-up kids had to question it. Mr. Rivera spent 20 minutes trying to explain it to them. The explanation should have only taken 5 minutes at the most, but they are so stubborn and thick-headed that they could not accept the explanation. We had a break after that, and when we got back, we sight-read a piece that was in 5/4 time, so that the two could understand. After that, we finished off the camp with Farandole!! I was very happy about that. It sounded pretty good. I love playing that piece. I fell in love with it when I first heard Trans-Siberian Orchestra play it. It was amazing. I hope we can play it next year. 

When camp finished, we came home and then started moving the remaining things in our room to one corner of the room. After that, we started taking out the carpet. We completely peeled off all of the carpet and took out the nails. When it was all taken out, we swept all of the dirt that was under the carpet, and there was a lot. There was about 15 year' worth of dirt under there. It's strange to think that I am older than the house I have lived in for almost my entire life. Anyways, after that, Ari and I put the wood in there so that way it could swell if it need to based on the humidity in that room. Here are some pictures. 

Ari and I are going to be super buff! Just kidding, but I do have to do some exercises for my back. Here is an example. 

I have to do a lot of similar exercises as well as core exercises. I hope I will get abs! 

So now I am just waiting for my other brother, Rene, to get here with my niece, Amiyah. 

So long for now!

Busy

So today was a very busy day. Well, not really, but it felt like it. 

I got up needing more sleep, but that wasn't an option. I had to get ready for orchestra camp and there was no way I was missing it. We left a little late, but we weren't the last ones there again. When we got to camp, our teacher had us tune our A strings and then the D string. I was only a little flat on my strings, and I was proud of that. He then let us try to tune the other strings. I got pretty close. When we were done with that, we worked on the three octave scales we need to do for All-State. Since we did the major scale yesterday, we worked on the melodic minor today. It was a little challenging, but I played it pretty well considering I had never even looked at it before today. When we finished with that, we did some more rhythms.  Today focused more on eighth and sixtieth notes, whereas yesterday was more on triplets. When we were able to get through most of the section of rhythms, we worked on another piece. I played first part, and I lived it.  It was really fun to play, and sounded very pretty. 

When camp was finished, our sister picked us up and took us to the library for a workshop for zucchini and all the different ways you can cook with it. I am not a big fan of zucchini, but the crisp thing was good. After that, we ate lunch and a Mexican restaurant. We had to go to Walmart after that to go get stuff for the workshop Ari and I had to do for 4-H. When we got home, had to hurry to get our things together for the workshop. We had planned on doing the peanut butter and jelly sandwich "challenge" for the activity, and then showing our YMCA Alice video to show how specific you may need to get with instructions. I had some interesting sandwiches to make. There was only one guy who actually made a correct sandwich, but I found out later that he had cheated. I didn't tell him that I knew, but it still made me upset. I wish I could have told him, but he was tall and intimidating.  There were a lot more activities that I don't want to talk about because it is late, but I will tell you that it was long and tiring. 

So long for now!! 

Ache

Today I had to wake up for my physical therapy. I woke up at 6 in the morning and we left at about 7:45. When we got there, we had to wait a few minutes for my PT. I got on the bike and biked 3.2 miles. I was so happy when I made it to my old distance. I was sore, though. When that was done, she taught me some new exercises instead of having me stretch first because she wanted to use a specific table that was in use at the time. All of the stretches were meant to strengthen my back and shoulders. I'm going to have a buff back by the end of this. 

After she showed me those ones, she had me do the other stretches and exercises she gave me. I was sore after we finished. My forearms hurt the most because of tennis practice. I am going to have huge arms what with the exercises and the tennis. I just hope I am proportional. 

When that was done, we left. We went home to get Ari and our violins. I ate a little more and then we left for orchestra camp. We got there a little late, but we weren't the last ones, thankfully. We worked on some more rhythms, and then he had us play our solos that we need to play for All-State. I haven't even really looked at the piece he gave us and so I didn't volunteer to play. I decided to work on it when I got home. We also worked on Farandole and got all the way to the end. I was proud that I could do it but the others kept messing up. I was not happy because I like seeing people fail, but because the two others are stuck-up and think they are better than anyone else. 

During this all, I really had to go to the restroom because of all the water I drank at the PT. The only problem was that these two guys were in the bathrooms, working on them. I finally went after they had left, but I felt bad because they were all clean. Oh, and I am really upset because there is someone who is breaking the water fountains in the music building and turning the nozzle the other way, as to wet people who try to drink from it. I know the kid who is turning the nozzles, but I don't know if be is breaking them. I don't really like him, so if it is him, my dislike will grow. 

So after this, we wen to eat with my sister Karim. It was nice, but I was very tired by the end of it. We came home and I took a three hour long nap. It was nice, but not enough for me. 

When I woke up, we had to go to tennis. We went a little early and just sat in the car. When he got there, all the rest of us were already waiting. We started off with some stretches and then played a game of doubles. The winning team kept playing unless a challenger beat them. After a lot of round of that, we played a new game. There was only one ball in play, so we had to clear the court of any stragglers.  We divided into two teams and went on opposite sides of the court. The goal was to keep the ball in play, meaning that the ball is bouncing at least a little. Every member on the team had to hit the ball with their racquet before the ball could be hit to the other side. The tennis court is enclosed in a fence, so we had all of the area inside of the fence to play in, not just the actual court. Each member could hit the ball only twice in a row, and three times total. After that, it was a dead ball. We played quite a few rounds of that before we left. I am so sore right now. I hope I can get up tomorrow. Anywho, after tennis, Noel and I went to Sonic to get some food. We went home, and Ari and I practiced our solos after we ate. We are good enough to present, but not the best that we should be. I could make a lot of excuses, but I won't. We haven't been practicing because we, or at least me, are too lazy. Oh well. I will practice more now that I know we have to be great by September. 

What to talk about.......hmmmmmmm.... I don't know. Oh well. 

So long for now!!

Weird

Today started off weird. I had to wake up at the same time as for camp, but I'm not going to camp. At least not YWiC camp. Today I go to orchestra camp. Before we even left the house, I became stressed. Not for camp, but because Ari almost threw up. I don't know why, but she didn't and the feeling went away. Still. It freaked me out and my anxiety went sky high. 

After that episode, we went to the orchestra camp. We got there about on time, and thankfully the doors were open. There were only 7 people at the camp including us. It was sad. We had four violins, a viola, a cello and a bass. It was disappointing. Still, we practiced. We started with tuning. We were all rising sophomores, and don't know how to tune on our own. Today, our teacher started to teach us how to tune our own instruments. We started with the A string. Then we double stopped the A and D string. We got pretty good at it. I was really mad that only the seven of us showed up. All of the orchestra should have been there to learn. Oh well. We will be the awesome kids in the orchestra. 

We had a five minute break between learning rhythms and bow markings. 

When we got back, we sight-read Farandole. I love this piece. I fell in love with it when I heard the Trans-Siberian Orchestra play it live when the came here a few years back. I got to play first violin, so I was happy. I even showed up this stuck-up kid whom I hate! I played it better, and made fewer mistakes. 

When camp was over, we went home and started working in our new room. It is starting to come together. We are almost done emptying it out so that we can take out the carpet and put in the wood. Before we do that, though, we have to finish painting the ceiling. We went to Walmart so we could go get the paint we need to paint the ceiling. It took a while because they couldn't get the right color with the machine. In the meantime, Ari and I found these huge marshmallows that were only 75 cents! So we got stuff for s'mores, and some other things. It was by then that we got the paint. It is only a tad bit darker and greener than what we had anticipated, but I like the color. 

When we got home, we ate dinner and then got back into our room. We emptied it out a little more and will hopefully start painting the ceiling. I'll let you know tomorrow if that happens. 

I forgot to mention that Jade texted me today! She got a new number because her old phone broke while she was at camp. It had been acting funny before, but it just burned out during camp. She got a new phone, and let us know. It was a very nice conversation. She told me that she would have stayed at camp for a whole month if she was give the option. She loved it and wished it were longer. So do I. I miss all the campers, but I really miss all of the instructors. 

So long for now!!

Tired

Today was just a tiring day for me. I had a rough night last night, and got up earlier than I should have. Well, actually, I was supposed to be up at 8:30 for the orchestra camp I was supposed to go to, but I wasn't sure when the camp was supposed to start at. I emailed my orchestra teacher last night, and he got back to me at 7:39 this morning. I didn't wake up early enough to see the email and get ready for the camp, so I just decided that we wouldn't go. That, and my mom went to have a massage at that time, and no one else would have been able to take us. We will be going to the camp for the rest of the week, so I will have something to talk about for this week.
At around 12:45, my mom and I left for PT. I was on the bike for 15 minutes, and only went 3 miles. I had decided to give myself a break, but I really wanted to do at least 3 miles. After that, I did my stretch and my exercises that I was given two sessions ago. After that, my PT gave me some new exercises to do. They are meant to strengthen my shoulder blades, as well as improve my posture.
When that was done, we went home and kinda lounged around. At around 5, my amazing friend Noelia called me about the orchestra camp. She put me on speaker phone so that Mica and their mom could listen and join in on the conversation. We compared notes, and we found out that Noelia will not be able to make the morning sessions if they are for all the instruments.
So then we had dinner of spaghetti, and then my brother and I got ready for our tennis lesson. Our mom signed us up for a beginning tennis class so that we could learn how to play. We went to the wrong tennis court, and got to the real place about 15 minutes late. We didn't miss much, but still. It sucks to be late to the first class. We did a lot, and I got pretty good at serving. When that was done, we went home and I lounged around some more.  I am really bored, and I hope this blog won't get too terribly boring.
This is all. So long for now!