20 Seconds could be as simple as feeling like a fool in the big city
I recently watched a movie called "We Bought a Zoo" starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johanson. One of the things that stood out to me in the movie was the quote "20 seconds of insane courage, that's all it takes". It is the motto that the character played by Matt Damon lives his life by. For me it means that if you take risks, good things will come out of them. Whether you go out for a team that you're not sure about or if you go out with friends to a new spot, you are opening yourself up to having a new experience that could change you or impact you in some way. I had 20 seconds of insane courage when I volunteered to be a homeroom rep in grade 9. I had just been cut from the basketball team and I wanted to do something new. Volunteering for that opened the door to me being on SAC ever since. I know that that day was the start of my progression to become a leader. Those 20 seconds changed my high school experience for the better. I suggest that you try having 20 seconds of insane courage and I'm sure that something will come out of it.
If I could sue because of disappointment with a product, I would sue the company that created Catherine's suckers. The kind labelled Lime Mojito to be exact. After having a lick of this sucker, it was established that it was absolutely disgusting. As my friends Gabby (the purchaser of the sucker) said "it tastes like sadness and socks with a hint of lime". Doesn't that sound simply scrumptious? The entire table had a taste after this outburst and we all agreed that it was horrible. Combined with everyone elses germs it was a treat to remember. If you have ever smelled a gym sock, imagine that in a taste. . . and then add lime. The worse part of the sucker was that the taste lingered even after I enjoyed my sour watermelon variation. I would sue the company for the creation of this type of sucker. In addition it makes me wonder how on earth it got through flavour testing in the factories. I had a similar experience with gum given to me by Gary Wilson, my school volleyball coach. In retrospect I should never have tasted it because it was Wilson who gave it to my but never the less. The gum was citrus mint. Normally when mint is mixed with a flavour I enjoy it but this was huge disappointment. It tasted like. . . well. . .vomit. I spit it out within two seconds and Wilson proceeded to kill himself laughing while I wiped my tongue off. I will never ever take gum from him again. So if I could sue for horrible products it would be for lime mojito suckers and citrus mint gum.
Early Saturday morning they start coming. They flow down the streets at 6 am looking for the best parking spots. All of the houses in New Dundee already have their lights on. Looking through windows you would see families at their kitchen tables eating breakfast. The kids bright eyed while the parents cover their yawns with cups of coffee. Soon they’ll be out and about, walking around the beautiful little town. Past the emporium, library, village market, ice cream shop and school. They’ll cross over the dam and will end in the park like they do every year around this time. As soon as the street lamps turn off, garage doors fly open and people peel into the streets. Up and down the sidewalks people tread, looking for treasure that their neighbours and friends could be harbouring. Shouts of recognition and laughter issue from many driveways as people walk up and down, bargaining and buying other people’s things. It has been said that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure and this is proven true on Garage Sale Day in New Dundee. A tradition, that happens on the Saturday of the May 24 weekend that has been going on as long as anyone can remember. Treasures piled high on driveways and in garages that are looking for new homes. Complete with a Firefighter’s breakfast and a parade, Garage Sale Day is a staple for all New Dundee Residents. It is one of many things that make my little town so amazing!
When travelling to Washington this past week I brought all my experience of other trips to light in order to survive the long bus ride. If you are planning on travelling and a long ride is necessary remember my list to help you get through.
1. A Good Playlist
This was great for me because it can keep you entertained but can also block out outside noise. Say that the person behind you won’t stop talking. You just put earphones in and can disappear into the melody leaving them to talk to thin air instead of you. In addition, a long ride gives you a chance to listen to new music. Before I leave I always ask for friends to suggest songs for me to listen to. Some songs suck but there is always one that gets stuck in my head.
2. Reading Material
If you get car/bus/motion sick this is not a good option for you. However if you can read in a moving vehicle this is a great way to pass the time. I do not suggest an 800 page novel with complex language and a cover that could knock out a stalker but a light read is great. It is recommended that you read a portion of the novel before you leave to make sure it is a good fit for you. Also you could bring magazines to pass the time.
3. Food
The best food is junk food. You are on a trip with no parental guidance so you can do what you want. Who cares if you’ll have a stomach ache that makes you double over in pain! No pain, no gain readers. I suggest chocolate covered pretzels, yogurt covered pretzels, jelly beans, jolly ranchers, chocolate bars, chips, and for you health nuts, chocolate trail mix. Yum and I’m sure that your parents will be very happy when you arrive home with a mouth full of cavities.
4. Drinks
It is important on a trip to stay hydrated so remember to drink a lot of water. People will tell you that this is not the way to go but I disagree. You will give everyone a chance to stretch their legs when the bus stops for the umpteenth time to let you pee. Remember that all the other kids will owe you so you can collect later.
5. Sleeping Material
Always bring a pillow and a blanket. It will make you more comfortable and will help you pass the long hours. If you forget, you can just wait until others are sleeping and can go and “borrow” theirs. They’ll be happy to help you out.
6. A Bag of Tricks
I suggest a wig, plastic army men, a sharpie, a moustache, and a camera. Wait until sleeping has occurred and then have at it. You will entertain yourself and others watching. The camera will serve as a reminder to the sleeper of the amazing bus ride they had. . . and how they should practise sleeping with one eye open.
I hope my list is helpful and if you follow it to a tee it will make your ride unforgettable. Happy Travels!
While sitting here in class, I am listening to Kelly Clarkson’s song Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) and it got me thinking about if that is actually true. I think it is good for some situations like a bad breakup or a friendship that didn’t work out and blew up in your face but I don’t think it’s true for all. Say you got in an accident while you were driving that puts you in the hospital. Next time you go to get in a car would you think, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”? I would think not. I would personally be thinking, “Oh my God, oh my God!”, “Don’t hit me!”, “I’m going to die!” and other things along the same lines of these. I do not think accidents that almost kill you will make you a stronger person. Sure you’ll have to develop new coping skills to help you manage your feelings and fears but it doesn’t directly make you a stronger person.
Also, there is the saying, “dying of a broken heart”. While you can’t actually die because of a broken heart, you can die because of repercussions of the “broken heart”. You can forget to take care of yourself as you’re grieving or just not want to eat or sleep because you lost someone who meant the world to you. I think that losing someone will not make you stronger. I think it makes void in your heart where that person was. A loss does not make you stronger. While the song is good and Kelly Clarkson has a great voice, I think the premise of the song is untrue. What doesn’t kill you may NOT make you stronger!
This story is worth reading because it has good descriptive language and it is an interesting story. It shows that adventures can happen when you’re least expecting them and you have to be prepared to face obstacles and problems when travelling.
Two penguins were married at a Zoo in China on February 13th. The zoo planned this event for right before Valentine's Day. The penguins were driven in riding in a remote control car with patrons of the zoo taking pictures the entire time. Since penguins don't have fingers, they wore garlands of flowers around their necks instead of wedding rings. The zoo hoped to excite the crowd for Valentine's Day and get them to anticipate the day of love. Personally I think this is a kind of psychotic but it's also pretty cute. Come on. . . it's penguins.:)
I think it is nutty because well, there penguins. It is not customary, if you haven't guessed, to marry animals. http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/890179-penguin-couple-married-in-bizarre-ceremony-ahead-of-valentines-day
In other news, a women married a building in order to try and save it from being torn down. This happened in Seattle and the women said her vows to the building after "falling in love" with it. The building is 107 years old and was set to be torn down to make room for an apartment complex. There is no news on if her vows were enough to save the building.
You see, there IS someone (or something) for everyone. http://nation.foxnews.com/weird-news/2012/01/30/woman-marries-building-attempt-save-it
I am a bit divided when it comes to Valentine’s Day. It is a great day to celebrate the ones we love but it has been blown into a day for couples only. At my house I get presents on Valentine’s Day. I also get a gift for my brother and also for my parents. This year I got home-made knitted sock, from my Mom of course, chocolates from my brother and flowers from my Dad. I enjoy this aspect of this February holiday but it can be very sappy and as one of my dear friends puts it “A day to make single people feel even more single”.
I believe that if you love someone you should not only have one day to express it. I feel that everyday should be special and you can surprise the one you love with flowers and candy any day you choose. I am a hopeless romantic so I believe in presents “just because” and random poetry because you miss the one you love.
For kids, Valentine’s Day it a time to show friends and teachers that you appreciate them by giving cards to people who mean a lot. I like the idea that little kids see the day as a time to share love with people who matter in their lives.
This years Valentine’s Day was awesome. In my Bio class my friends and I had a “secret valentine” because we’re all single and we like chocolate. It was pretty awesome. I got a box of chocolates and a stuffed Duck because I play on the Duckies. Also my other friends gave out cards and I received a lot more chocolate and heart themed candy. I gave our cards of my own with a Winnie the Pooh theme. Valentine's Day isn't just about couples but it is also about the love between friends. I think it was a pretty successful day overall.
This year W-O’s Sr. Girls Volleyball team is poised to be the third best triple A school in the school board. This will give them the third birth at CWOSSA later this month. But there is still one game to play! Last night the Crusaders won three straight games against the KCI Raiders finishing the regular season with a record of 6 wins and 6 loses putting them in 8th. This means that they will play Southwood on Thursday at 7 pm. If the Crusaders win this game then they will make it to CWOSSA for the first time in many years. Southwood also has a record of 6 and 6. These two teams have not gone head to head this season so anything can happen. Coached by Gary Wilson and Craig Hynes, the team of 12 girls are pumped for the coming game. This is what the grade 12’s on this team have been waiting for over the past 4 season, a chance. A chance to show that they are better than they seem and that even though the tallest player is only 5’10 they can play with heart and play big. Hoping for a game with big block, tons of kills, strong serving, dime digging and nails for passes, the ladies on the team wish for that last CWOSSA birth!
In ten years I see myself as a teacher. I want to finish university and go to teachers college. I will be a high school Phys. Ed and English teacher. My wish is to come back and teach at W-O. I want to coach teams at W-O including volleyball and track and field but also volunteer in the community by being a minor soccer coach and a coach for Waterloo Tigers, the volleyball club I currently play for. In addition, I hope to be married and maybe have a child in ten years. I want two kids, a boy and a girl. My friends tell me that I am going to be the ultimate soccer Mom and will bring cookies to all of the games just like my Mom does.
In the future, I know that I will pretty much look the same. I know I will never be into cosmetic surgery because I hate needles and also I know that aging is a part of life and your face only shows what you have experienced. I have never dyed my hair and I plan to never do so in the future. I am a natural blonde and I love it. Also when I’m older I will look a lot like my aunt. I know this because she looked very much like I do now when she was in high school.
In the future I will be still close to my family and friends because they are a huge part of my life and they are so important to me. I will have more family in ten years because Erich may have kids and so may my cousins, so I will have a larger extended family.
Most of all, I hope to be involved with the Olympic in the future. I think it would be amazing to be part of Canada’s Olympic committee by assisting athletes or planning travel or anything. It would be an amazing experience and it would make my life complete. My Dad and I share a huge bond over the Olympics and I think it would be awesome to share even more of the games together. If that doesn’t happen to me I want to at least go to an Olympic games in my life time. Preferably the Summer Olympics because of the Track Events!!! They’re usually my favourite parts of the games!
This is where I see my life in ten years. No matter what I will be happy and will live my life to the fullest!
If I could be a celebrity I would want to be somewhat recognizable but I would also want to be worthy of the fame. I would not like to be a singer or an actress. Although they are good professions and they bring pleasure to many people, I would much prefer to be known because of say humanitarian efforts or for saving a life. Ultimately I would want to be a superhero. Think about it. It's the best of both worlds. I'd have a secret identity so I could be a normal person but I could also save lives and make the world a better place. I would have a small group who knew the truth and I could still be friends with the same people. I would have of course superpowers like teleportation and the power of invisibility. I would also like to be super strong and be able to read minds. I think these four powers would make a superb superhero. I would be a quite kind of super hero. I would shy away from the limelight and I would be able to help all those in need without having all the enemies that coincide with the title. I would also be a superhero who wears a proper amount of clothing because I'd want to be an appropriate role model. Lauren thinks that my superhero should be Wonder Woo but I think that’s a little obvious. If you have any suggestions please post below. I definitely think that being a superhero would be the best type of fame.
A song that really represents my childhood is “The Best Day” by Taylor Swift. My Mom was a stay-at-home Mom and I have so many memories of my brother and I sitting at the kitchen table playing and talking to her. In the song Taylor says,
There is a video
I found from back when I was three
You set up a paint set in the kitchen
And you're talking to me
It's the age of princesses and pirate ships
And the seven dwarves
As a child I had a very active imagination and there are videos of me creating stories and telling them to Mom and Erich. I enjoyed princess stories and also stories that had horses.
There are videos and pictures of me telling stories to my Mom as a child and this song reminds me of the bond I share with my amazing Mom. One of my favourite stories is when I was three and we were going on a trip to PEI. We had left that morning and when we were in the hotel that night my Mom asked us what we remembered from home. Erich said he remembered Gee (Grandma), Major (her dog), our house and the tree in our front yard. When Mom asked me I promptly replied, “I amember nofing”. My Mom tells how her and my Dad laughed so hard at the earnest expression on my face as I solemnly said these words. My Mom realized that I had no idea what the word “remember” meant so thus my answer. There are many moments like this in my life that bring joy and laughter to my family as we “amember” them.
Taylor also sings, “Daddy's smart and you're the prettiest lady in the whole wide world”. Like every child, I loved (and still love) my parents and was never shy to tell them so. My Mom remembers me always telling her that she smelled good. I would tell her that she smelled “sweet and like baby powder”. Also when I was young my dad was a never-ending fountain of knowledge. He seemed to have an answer for everything and I find that he still does. And if he doesn’t, he will lie. But, my Dad is a really bad liar. When he is making something up, his eyebrows always quiver. I still think my Dad is smart and my Mom is pretty just like the song says.
The song ends with the lyrics,
Now I know why all the trees change in the fall
I know you were on my side
Even when I was wrong
And I love you for giving me your eyes
Staying back and watching me shine.
These words are so true. Parents are always watching out for their kids and even if it seems excessive, they just do it because they love us and want us to be the best we can be. I feel that this song is an ode to all parents from their kids who never say “thank you” enough. Even though we are growing up we do depend on our parents and they will try their very best to always be there. I owe my parents everything and this is why “The Best Day” by Taylor Swift is my theme song
