Valentine's Love

“I am very sorry about not doing this essay,” Sasha quickly thought in her mind after she heard about this essay. “I just was spending all my time reading the great book The Tale of Two Cities,” Sasha joked once more.

I just love homework. It's one of my specialties. Whenever a teacher gives me homework I quickly thank them for my homework, and then dash off to my next class. (Where I pray for homework.) If I could spend my whole day doing homework I would. However, I don't. I have something better to do. It's called stalking Preston.

I have a pounding love for this boy. His name is Preston. He's cute, funny, and very very strong! Preston is the head of the chess club. So of course, me being Sasha, I had to join. It was probably the best thing I ever did. Every afternoon I go and play Preston at chess. We are the only two in the club so more flirting time for me!! Yay!! Every time I look at Preston, my heart starts pounding, and I get butterflies in my stomach. I almost have a heart attack!

Today is Valentine's Day. I got Preston a BIG present. He didn't get me anything, just a new chess board for himself. Since I broke his old one. The game was just so intense! Anyway, this morning I went and heart attacked his front door and left him from chocolates. I got them last year for Valentine's. I bit out of one of them to make sure it wasn't stale. And don't worry, I put it back in the heart shaped box so he could have my DNA!! Muhahaha! I'll marry him somehow! I also wrote him a poem, it goes like this.

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

I'm sorry I broke your chess board,

Please don't go boo hoo.

Your eyes sparkle like a bright night light,

It makes you glow in the night.

I hope you enjoy your present,

Sorry I look like a pheasant.

Your chocolates are a year old,

I hope they're not too cold.

This poem is especially for you,

It took a lot of time too.

Love forever and ever,

Sasha

That poem took me a very long time to write. I spent days, weeks, even months thinking of this mind boggling poem! Isn't it great? Me and Preston aren't really the same type of people. But that's okay, I'll deal with it. I mean I like Pokemon, checkers, and Barbies. And Preston, he just likes Spiderman, chess, and action figures. Me and Preston, we're just so good together! We play chess the same way. We have the same strategy. At first when he was teaching me how to play I thought you tried to kill the knight, but Preston told me I was wrong. I just have a real special place in my heart for Preston. No one really likes him, but I sure think he is great. I hope he enjoyed my poem, and my year old chocolates.

A Sudden Love for Science Class

Oh! How I love my science class so much! I can not even tell you in words how much I enjoy going to Biology each day. Everyday is a new adventure. I just love making DNA molecules, and 3-D animal cells. Each day it just gets better and better. Whenever I remember it's A day, it's always a great day.

Probably one of my favorite parts of Biology class is the weekly vocabulary quizzes. I really appreciate those. I mean my life is just so much better now that I know what a semiconservative replication is. I mean really, that just made my day. I love memorizing 40 vocabulary words each week. I use the words so much. It really is a blessing to have it them in my life. Like today when I was talking to my friend at school this is how our conversation went: "Wow your outfit is so cute! It's almost like a mutation of clothes, and your hair! Wow! Look at it! There are little okazaki fragments in it! Cute!" I mean, the words I learn are everyday words. Nucleosome, messenger RNA, exons, I mean I could go on for 12 more chapters.

But wait! It gets better! Wednesday Webwork! I almost always forget about it! It's so great! I enjoy trying to get 100% every time. It usually take 3 or 4 times. I know you don't think that this class can get any better but guess what! It does! The pop quizzes are probably my favorite part. Each day you might just get tested on your knowledge of the animal or plant cell. It's great.

One of the greatest parts of the classroom is the room behind the science class. I think it's a jungle. There are all of these great big trees and other mysterious things. I just would really like to go exploring in there. Though, I might get attacked by a carnivorous, eating monster. You never know what may be hiding in a science "behind the scenes" classroom.
Last but not least, what I really am in love with is science media. I love Bill Nye. I just have a science crush on him. His show just makes me love science. I love the "Try This at Home" segment, because I always do the experiment. Bill Nye's show is probably my second favorite thing in this world. My science class comes in first that is. Or I really like the shows where they show the insides of bodies, or animals. I think that's really cool. I don't get scared or grossed out or anything! I just think it's great all around. One of my other favorite things is the songs. The 1st grade songs that are composed are just so great and help me learn so much! But they aren't annoying. Not one bit. When I was looking at my iTunes today...guess what? The one on DNA and other interesting facts are most played on my iPod.

Science is probably my favorite class. And well, you can tell why. It just brings joy to my face when I get to walk into the wonderful classroom. It's like history is being made there. I hope you all have the life-long lasting experiences like I do.  

A Long Lasting Guilty Pleasure

You might call me crazy but for the last 10 years of my life guess what I have spent it doing? Watching American Idol. I just can't seem to get enough of it. I know, it's dumb and quite the waste of time but I just can't stop watching it. You may call it my guilty pleasure.


Each year, it seems to get worse. The winners get worse, the auditions are as bad as ever, and according the the Internet the TV viewers last season were as low as ever. But I just can't stop watching it. I remember when it first started and I was just little and each season I dreamed of being on the show. All I wanted to do was audition for Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson. (If they we're nice to me that is.) I wanted to be the next American Idol. Each year I would wish that they would come to Utah and I would grow up a little faster so I could audition. I didn't want to be the person in the pink bunny suit with dinky music in the background. I wanted to be the next Idol.


Thankfully they made some changes. They got rid of Ellen after last year, and they finally got rid of the crazy drugie Paula Abdul. This year they brought in Steven Tyler, and Jennifer Lopez. I defiantly think the judges this year are much better. Steven Tyler is like the greatest rockstar ever (besides KISS Mr. Thompson:)) But I also think that the three judges just know what they are talking about. They are all great musicians. Each year my dad prays that we won't have to watch the show again but me and my sister don't give in. But I would have to say that this year with the new judges, and a new remodel of the show, it has gotten much better.


The question I always ask myself through the painful auditions is: Do you really think your good? I mean seriously, what made you think it was a good idea dress up in this beautiful costume and go on national television? You stink! Go back to your baby city and sing to the drunk people in the bar..they won't hear a thing your saying! I think it's so funny! The judges are just flat out mean to the people that can't sing. Then, that person always gets the American Idol sign over there mouth but it's there own fault they went on the show if they can't sing!


Each week when Wednesday comes I can't possibly wait for seven o'clock to come! And then after it's over and can't wait for Thursday night for more Idol. Then, I live my long, sad week without it. I need an Idol boost by next Wednesday. It's my guilty pleasure that I can't seem to get over. I may be the only person at Fairfield Junior High that watches American Idol but I don't really care. It may be the most rigid, fake, useless, over exaggerated show but oh well! American Idol is still my favorite show. And of course, my guilty pleasure. :)

"What's Special About You?"

How can you tell someone's personality? By looking at a blog or handwriting can you tell if it's a boy or a girl? Or if their nice, mean, funny, full of energy, or depressed? Our parents and teachers have always told us not to make first impressions. Isn't it just a human thing we all do? We often think of first impressions by looking at the person. How does their hair look? Oh look at their clothes. Well, they got a 4.0 they must be a nerd.


First impressions isn't always a sight thing. It can be as simple as what there handwriting looks like, what there assignments look like, or even how they text. When I am texting someone and they use punctuation, or they make the conversation interesting it automatically makes me think that the person I am talking to is friendly, and outgoing. But what about there handwriting? The sloppiness of some kids (and teachers) handwriting really makes an impression on you. If a teacher is reading your work and it's sloppy so they can't read it, they are going to think of you differently then they think of someone with eligible handwriting. They might think of you as sloppy or careless of your school work, when really, you just don't have good handwriting.


Rather then writing or texting people will make a first impression of you of the way you act. Automatically, the first day I go to school and I meet my teachers I will form an opinion about how there class was just that first day, and what I now think about them. And same with the other kids in my class.


First impressions are such a terrible thing. They are often wrong. Think about it. Most of the first impressions you make are totally wrong, You see someone for the first time. They are doing something dumb, or acting silly. Your mind automatically makes an impression of them. Then when your talking to your friend she says “Oh that girl is so nice.” You see, that girl you made the first impression about and soon realize that your impression is totally opposite then how she really is. Just once you get to know her.


All of the dumb impressions we make aren't always true and if you talk about it enough it can ruin the other persons reputation. Everyone has their own personality and we shouldn't make first impressions. Chances are, we will just end up changing our mind about them. No matter the way they talk or text, or the way there writing on their paper looks. The person we are making an impression about is probably very nice.

Personalities are a great thing. Everyone has a different way they act. Happy, sad, energetic, or droopy. You might just catch them in the wrong mood. One thing I love doing is people watching. I think it's so interesting to see how everyone acts, everyone is different. Like my sister said when as a little girl when someone was questioning her. “Everyone has something special about them, what's special about you?”

From Class to Class... A big difference

The certain class, the one we all dread. The class was not too hard, all you had to do was listen and pay attention. The class was a huge stress, and to add to the memorizing, listening, and pointless assignments, the class was just plain boring.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved the teacher. Hes hilarious, his classroom might not be the most welcoming, but he is just straight out funny. I liked talking to him, he told me everyday how much he liked me, but I just wasn't feelin' the same connection. With his class that is. I think the problem was the learning. I learned a lot in his class, but his teaching style, isn't really my way of learning.



At semester my schedule changed and I got the other teacher for this subject. I went to her class the first day and she had a substitute. I was told her class was "extremely easy" but still, I was prepared for a hard class still. Boy, was I wrong. We had notes to fill out on the movie, and then some worksheets. After the movie the sub told us to get out our pencil to go over the notes. I thought that meant we were correcting it but the girl in front of me quickly told me that we were just  "fixing our answers so we got 100%." What? What in the world? I couldn't believe that. Our worksheets reminded me of the ones I did in 5th grade. But easier. They had the page and where to look on the page in the book.


Then one kid told me everything they do in that class. "We spent half the class coloring this picture, you just change our answers so you get 100%, this class is so easy, last semester I had three missing assignments and still got an A." Coming from my other class I couldn't believe how uneventful this class sounded.



I'm not saying that I won't learn anything, because I hope I will. I don't think my other class was the perfect way of learning either. I'm not exactly sure what is. It's different for everyone.  I have only had one day of this class. But from the first day it sounds pretty stress-free. The subject is not my favorite so the less I have to do with it at home...the better. But I am excited to see how tomorrow goes with the class again. For you, what is the easiest way for you to learn? Sitting through a lecture? Doing worksheets? Memorizing? Music, songs?



Maybe I'm completely wrong, and this class will be a challenge. I'm sure hoping not, the less stress the better. With 3^rd term starting, and spring coming I think all the classes with be harder to focus in. But I hope for me, and for you 3^rd tern is full of excitement, new adventures, better classes, and lots of fun! It's almost like another beginning of 2011! Good luck in 3^rd term!

Technology

I remembered that I needed to do my Honors English, so I was thinking that I could just post my 5 paragraph essay. But no...of course not!
I did the essay at school so I was trying to find the file on my grades. Logged in, and tried to look at the different tabs to find where my essay was. But of course, the tabs aren't working. I keep getting that stinkin' HTTP 500 error page. I hate that page!


Why can't things just work when you want them too? Why does the website always have to be working perfectly, but the one time you need it to work it doesn't?


But really, when you think about it, technology is an amazing thing. Maybe some of you can do this, but I sure can't. Can you imagine sitting in a building all day trying to figure out wire for wire, and this for that? I sure could never do that. Everything has to be exactly perfect so everything can run smoothly. I know how to work a computer, or phone but I could never build anything like that!


Can you imagine what our world you be like if we didn't have the people that built technology? No cell phones, no computers, no..nothing. I'm not addicted to my phone or anything but could you really imagine living with no cell phone, or not being to type your English paper? I sure think that would be really hard.


We are sure lucky to live in this “day and age” :) where we can use all of this advanced stuff. Our world would sure be different without it.

Relief!

I don't ever think I have felt so relieved! As I walked into my math class on Friday, I felt so much weight lifted off my shoulders! Even though I had just gotten 50% on my seminary test I finally had the feeling of accomplishment! I have never felt so stressed as I did this last week of the term. I felt as like the projects, and useless assignments would never end!


As I walked into my math class I was in the most wonderful mood. Everyone was telling me I was especially happy. But I was! Finally the term was over! And now instead of look ahead to my math test that I had in 10 minutes, I was looking ahead to the four day weekend that awaited me!


I am really looking forward to this new semester! All of my fun classes are this semester, and I think I have lots of classes with my friends. My A day is going to be so great, and my B day is pretty good for the most part. I fixed my schedule just how I wanted it with my teachers, and order. I'm really looking forward to this last half of the year.


So how did the end of the term finish up for you? Are you happy with your grades? Are you excited for your new classes? Did you think the end of the term was harder then normal?


Happy 3rd term!

Pass It On

How many of you have noticed the new commercials on TV lately? No, I'm not talking about the beer commercials, or the GEICO commercials, or Progressive commercials. I know we all have seen those billions of times, but the commercials I'm talking about are the Values-- Foundation for a Better Life commercials. Have you seen those?


The commercials, for those of you that don't know what I'm talking about, all have a meaning to them. Each commercial has a different message. Each commercial is built with a different inspirational quote. I have also noticed billboards on the streets. They take inspirational stories that you hear on the news, or around town, or even on sportscenter, and they make it a known story to let people know the great things other people are doing. As I was researching online about this organization this I found out a lot more on how this group is helping the world.


From the FAQ site of http://www.vaules.com


What is The Foundation for a Better Life?
The Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, started in 2000. Our sole objective is to promote positive values, using print and broadcast media.


Why are you doing this?
We want the stories we share about the positive actions and values of others to serve as inspiration for someone to do one thing a little better, and then pass on that inspiration. A few individuals living values-based lives will collectively make the world a better place.


This is a simple company. Trying to make the world we live in today a better place. To me, it is great to see something like this going on. Everyday, you see people fighting, saying rude things, bullying, harassing, everything. I don't think that people realize what that does to people and here are people trying to fix those problems, and help everyone. They are trying to encourage people. I wonder if something as simple as these commercials or the billboards really help? Do they? Do you think they do? There are few trying to help the problem of bullying and ruining your self-confidence, but a lot that end up hurting.


Not all of there commercials are talking about helping but encouraging. On the website they have over 50 categories of how they are trying to help the world. I think this is a great thing they are doing. This organization doesn't get paid, they don't accept money, they just do it to help.

As the new year has started, after seeing these commercials I have decided to try and be a person that is living these values. Even if I'm not doing all of them at once, I am going to try and do a least one of them. Everyone can make a difference, you just have to try.

As funny as the beer commercials are, or the piggy screaming all the way home, or the talking babies. I think what this group has put together is a great thing, and they could really do something good to our community.

College Football Pick 'Em

While people prepare for the holidays, I prepare for bowl season. While everyone is shopping for the perfect gift, I am following the sports teams. And last but not least, while people are eating and sharing time with their friends and family, I am watching the football games. I often watch sports rather then going out with my friends. As for my sister, she would rather go with her friends then watch football. She often asks me how I possibly like watching football better then being with my friends. She says she doesn't “get it.” :)


The priorities hit as so did Christmas break. I made a list of items I needed to complete over the break. 


1. History Scrapbook
2. Reading
3. Math
4. English extra credit
5. Clean Room
6. Practice
7. Watch the College Football Bowl Games


As I procrastinated the first week of the break , I had yet to realize that I only had one week to do all of my homework AND watch all the football games. So now, here I am watching the TCU vs. Wisconsin game while trying to write my blog. :)


One thing that we do at my house is bowl pick 'em. My dad makes a paper with all the games on it. It includes the record of both teams, what the team is ranked if they are, and the time and channel of the game. That is for some of the people that don't follow football as well as the others.


We all make our picks and then put the paper one the fridge for everyone to compare, and also so we can keep track. My brother, dad, and I follow college football and know who should win the game. That being said it usually ends up that none of us win. Actually, most of the time we lose. We spend the most time thinking and deciding which teams we should pick. While on the other end, my sister and mom, don't really follow football and just end up looking at the record, making a wild guess, or looking at the logo and deciding which one they like better. And imagine this, my sister wins every year.


As I go through the list of games picking the winner, there are always those teams I will never pick. Even if they are supposed to win. For instance, I will never choose the team down south to win there bowl game, I didn't choose Notre Dame (because of Utah's embarrassing loss), I didn't choose TCU, but I always do pick Utah. Not choosing those certain teams usually ends up giving problems to my score. Where as my sister, mom, or even my brother don't care. They just want to win.


Maybe a good New Year's resolution would be to stop procrastinating, or maybe have more of open heart with my football teams (even though I know that won't happen.) This time of year is very fun, and bowl season makes it much better. Even if I don't win.


Happy New Year!

A New Tradition

One thing my parents are very good at is thinking up new ideas. Not only do they think up great and fun ideas and actives but they think of things for the long run. Each Christmas Eve we normally go down to Taylorsville and have a little yearly visit. Yes, I said yearly. It is usually quite awkward for me and my brother and sister. All we see are these little kids running around that I don't remember from the year before. And I don't exactly know the siblings of my dad's dad to well so it's always an interesting night. A few years ago I really enjoyed the party. I got to see my great grandparents who I liked a lot. But now they are deceased and so now there is no point for the party. My great grandparents kids have their own families to celebrate with now so according to the email...the Taylor family party is....CANCELLED! And now, my parents have though up a great tradition to start.

 My parents are always thinking ahead. The question that they ask themselves is "How can this be a tradition that will last in our family forever?" They want to be the grandparents that we don't really have. When me and my siblings are grown up they want to have fun traditions for the grandkids so they can come over to Grandma and Grandpa Taylor's house. Tomorrow night it will be soup for dinner, then baking and decorating cookies for Santa, and a fun round of Bingo. And in years to come when the grandkids come over everyone can bring a different kind of soup, each family can take a plate of cookies home for Santa, and everyone can leave with a prize from Bingo.

I like starting new traditions, and it makes me excited for my (future) family that they can have fun traditions to look forward too.