Cookie Dough (A Summary of Senior Year So Far)

Hello.

Hi.

Yeah, um.

What do people talk about?

How do I have like six or seven social media platforms, at least three of which I spend hours on everyday, and yet I really don't have much to say?

That's sickening.

Ugh.

So, life these days.

College applications. Panicking about college auditions. Listening to Adele's "Hello" and Troye Sivan's Wild pretty much constantly. Wishing I was in a musical. Waiting for Lil to come (she'll be here in TWO DAYS!). Being waaay behind of where I should be on NaNoWriMo. Still being sad about James and Lily Potter's death (it's been what, thirty-four years? Is my math right?). Struggling to write music. Working at the library and checking out more books than I can read.

The usual, really.

Life is so weird lately. It's going so fast and yet so very slow. I feel like I'm in an awkward in-between place, where most of my time is spent planning and getting ready for things to come. Which I'm not good at, nor do I like. There are days when I get all panicky and scared and want to cry about college and paying for college and college auditions and everything. But there are also days when I don't even care. I'll go wherever and be fine with it and pay for it somehow. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

These viewpoints are a little at odds with each other.

I'm fine. I'll be fine. I get through the panicky days with cookie dough and fanfiction. I get through the "I'll deal with it later" days with Spotify and NaNoWriMo-ing and more cookie dough.

There's been an unhealthy amount of cookie dough this year.

Things are coming together, though. I have a top three list of colleges. I still don't know what I'm majoring in (go figure), but I'm pretty sure I'm going to minor in music. Even though it is so hard some days, I love it so very much. I know I want to write and travel and love God and love people and point them back to Him however I can. I want to go and learn and experience new things.

So really, my life plans haven't changed much. I think that's good. However vague they may still be, I think they're starting to take shape. Still not sure what that shape is, but hey, that's half the fun (and half the stress, but whatever).

Anywho. I thought I'd give you a few updates before I go write 2,000+ words before going to bed.

Please insert a slightly terrified smile here.

Later, skaters. Have a beautiful day/evening full of cookie dough and Adele. ;)

September First

Oh.

It's James Sirius Potter's first time going to Hogwarts today. 

And Teddy Remus Lupin's last. 

And I'm very emotional about it?

It makes me feel very old. I only read the books... five years ago, maybe six, but they mean so much to me and there's so much beauty in them, and in the fandom and I just can't deal and on days like this it hits you with the fact that this story that means so much and feels so important isn't even real and it's just.... It's weird. 

On one hand, the power of the language, my friends. Can we talk about how amazing it is that we live in a world where symbols can be rearranged into words and sentences and paragraphs and make up beautiful, wonderful stories that can reach millions and millions of people all over the world?

And, going slightly more abstract, the fact that this story started with just one woman's idea? And then it spread and it caught on and then people could share this story and could see in their heads the way she saw it and then other people picked it up and transferred it from words on paper into a movie? And actors portrayed these characters, portrayed them so well that sometimes it's hard to differentiate between the two? 

And then there's all the fans, who make fanart (art pictured here is courtesy of Viria) and fanfiction and fanmusicals and start things like the Harry Potter Alliance, and it just blows my mind how one little story about a boy can literally change the world. 

This is why I love reading and writing and stories. 

And I'm just really emotional right now so excuse me while I go listen to the Harry Potter soundtrack and read Harry Potter and wear my Harry Potter t-shirt and drink butterbeer and pl an a Harry Potter movie marathon and rewatch A Very Potter Musical, A Very Potter Sequel, and A Very Potter Senior Year and look at Harry Potter fanart and join the Harry Potter Alliance because I adore this story and I adore how much good has come from this story. 

Senior Year and Stuff

First, I solemnly promise to post the last part of the Road Trip Series really, really soon.

Second, school has started.

And I really like it.

Not all of it. I do not like Personal Finance in the slightest, and staying awake through English on block days is one of the most challenging things ever, but...

For the most part, I'm very, very happy at school.

There are so many wonderful people at school, and so many wonderful things to learn, and experiences to be had and conversations to be held and every morning just seems so optimistic.

It's weird.

But golly, the past two weeks have been almost completely golden.

So. Many. Fun. Classes.

Ministry and Missions, Systematic Theology, Concert Choir and Madrigals, Music Theory, College English, even Government is kind of interesting. And AP Statistics is... bearable.

And there's so many people to talk to!

We had three days of school before leaving on senior trip. And senior trip was surprisingly fun. I really think the only thing most people got out of it was closer/new friendships, but I also know that some people were very much impacted by it. I just really loved hanging out with my friends, and with people who weren't really my friends before the trip. We did flips off diving boards, ziplined, jumped off the high dive, did the barn swing dozens of times, talked and worshiped and "bonded." And it was great.

The ride home, however... well, let's just say that 7+ hours on a bus with over forty other girls does not bring out the best in people. I mostly hid under a blanket fort with Ellen and listened to music.

But I liked the trip for the most part. There were too many athletic activities and too much segregation between the guys and girls, but overall, I had a lot of fun. And we came up with some bomb-awesome ideas for making senior year rock, several of which we have already implemented. Also, worship with that group? A-freaking-mazing. So many kids in our class are musically talented, and when everyone is channeling that towards God, it's so so so so cool.

This week has been mostly us figuring out school, since we barely had time last week. I've learned that we will get very, very little done it Stats, and get a heck of a lot done in music theory.

Music theory is just me and two guys (whom I like very much) and we are, um, a little competitive. Which is great, because we gets loads done very quickly and we're pushing each other to get better. But, it's also a wee bit scary because there are days when I think Oh gosh, we will not all make it out as friends. Let's just say we are all very smart and very used to being the smartest. At least it keeps things interesting, and if we make it out alive, I think we will all be better for this healthy competition.

Thursday afternoon, several senior girls stayed after school and covered the mirrors in two of the bathrooms with brown paper. We then proceeded to write on the paper. We wrote verses, song lyrics, quotes, all sorts of random things. Some were heartfelt, some were funny, but they all celebrated beauty that goes beyond what someone looks like. We wrote about being a strong woman, about being made in the image of God, of being wonderful and loved and valued. And I think it may have been more meaningful for us seniors who made it than any of the underclassmen who saw it.

Thursday was also Sonic's annual $0.50 corn dog day, so before we started working, Sofia and I drove to Sonic and got fifteen corn-dogs. It was glorious, and we thought it was hilarious. The guy who took our order was a little surprised by how many we wanted. They were delicious corn dogs, too.

Friday night absolutely wonderful. It was Final Friday, so Holly and I dropped by R Coffee Shop to see Maddie's artwork before it was moved/sold. It was amazing art, and an adorable shop, and really good coffee. Then we went to Sonic, got kids' grilled cheeses with tots, and headed to Trinity for the soccer game. We saw about twenty minutes of the game before it stopped for lightning. My dearest Laura was at the game, as Trinity was playing her school, so I chatted with her as we waited to find out what everyone else was going to do. We decided to head to someone's house for swing dancing. Well, we decide this, and suddenly it's pouring. Buckets of rain fall from the sky, and we are drenched in seconds. And obviously we have to sprint to our car, which about as far away as we could have parked, and everyone is screaming with delighted shock and we're running through puddles, avoiding cars, cheering and gasping and feeling suddenly, exquisitely vibrant and young. So we run, and Laura ends up in our car and we're shaking with cold and blasting the Black Keys and trying to find her parents. We find their car and drop her off and yell goodbye and exchange phone numbers with the promise to hang out soon.

Then Holly and I drive to the swing dancing party. It was a small party, really just us, five boys and six-ish other girls. But it was lovely. We played music and danced in the backyard on the basketball court and ate Chex Mix with M&Ms. I was getting fairly decent at it by the end of the evening. There is something so fun about swing dancing. It's so fast, and takes so much energy, and I mess up so much (sorry, Devin and Ethan), but it's so fun and relaxed. My goal is to be fairly competent by Barn Dance.

As the night wore on, we all got exhausted, and wound up sitting around a fire pit singing. Isaac brought his violin, Will had his guitar, and Ethan had his ukulele and an impromptu jam session happened. Will sang Untitled by Matt Corby and... wow. The feels.

Holly and I stayed until a little after midnight, singing and talking and dancing. It was really, really great. I was kind of surprised how much fun I had, since none of my "usual" friends were there. But it was nice to branch out, and amazing to get to practice dancing all night, and the jam/worship session at the end was just... Mmm. Yas. It was a good, good night.

So all in all? I'm so optimistic about this year. I have been blessed with someone wonderful friends and fabulous teachers, and I get to learn about things I actually care about.

Senior year, let's go.

Our Holiday Tradition

Our extended family has a joke that we can't have a holiday or major party without calling 911 at some point.
On Father's Day a couple years ago, Grandma slipped and hurt her leg, passing out in the process.
The day after Christmas last year, Mac broke his arm.

This week, we had to call the fire department.

Kensi's friend (our cousin, Shae) was spending the night, and they were in the living room "sleeping" (read: talking).
Holly and I were upstairs, trying to get a movie to work on Netflix. Mom and Dad were asleep in their room, Mac was across the hall from us.
We clicked play for the hundredth time, watching it load soooo sloooooowly.
And then we heard a popping/banging noise.
We both looked to the closed door.
"It was probably Mac," I said, shrugging.
"Should we check on him?" Holly asked, staring at the door.
"You can."
She stood up and looked back at me. "Can you please come?"
I rolled my eyes and shoved the blankets and laptop off of me. "Come on," I said impatiently. I opened the door and walked to Mac's room, Holly close behind. The two little girls stood at the foot of the stairs.
"Did you hear that?" Shae asked.
"Yeah. It was probably Mac. Go to sleep," I told them.
I opened his door to find his room dark and silent, with him sprawled out across his bed, sound asleep.
Holly and I exchanged glances, this time with alarm and maybe a bit of excitement.
We stood there in his doorway for a moment, tense, listening.
"Addi," Holly whispered. "I think I smell burning."
I glanced at the bathroom, gesturing for her to follow me. We poked in, checking that no curling irons or anything were on. Nothing was plugged in, but the smell was definitely stronger in here.
Our bathroom is split into two rooms, the big part with the sink and counter and mirror, where you fix your hair and whatnot. Then there's a door, behind which is the shower and toilet. It's actually quite genius, because someone can be taking a shower while someone else is brushing their teeth.
I opened the door.
Strange, molten, thread like substance dripped from the ceiling, (luckily) collecting directly in the trash can.
I looked up and gasped.
"Uh, Hollers," I said. "Our house is on fire."
Which was not exactly true. The fan had been left on (I left it on, in case you were wondering) and had started an electrical fire in the vent. It was smaller than a campfire.
I told the little girls to get Mom and Dad. Holly ran for the fire extinguisher, and Dad put it out fairly easily.

Then the real fun began.
All us kids, including a half asleep Mac, sat in the living room while Dad called the fire department so they could double check that everything was safe.
Less than three minutes later, six, I repeat six, fire trucks were on our street, sirens and lights and everything.
We were all laughing somewhat hysterically, and Holly asked Dad (probably ten times) if he actually told them the fire was out. And tiny.
Anyway, six fire trucks, nine firefighters in our house, twenty minutes, and some ripped out insulation later, they declared it safe.

And our one full bathroom has this lovely gaping hole in the ceiling. It's about the size of a piece of printer paper.  

But they did say it could have been a lot worse, and we were super lucky. 

So we were immensely thankful afterwards. 

And Holly and I will probably be using this as an excuse to watch movies on Netflix late at night for months to come.

So. Tired.

Tech week has begun.
I'm tired.
The end. 

This Will Be A Crazy Month

Mom's birthday. Lilli's birthday. Ender's Game. Thor 2. Doctor Who 50th. Legend book 3. CATCHING FIRE. High School Musical show. School. Thanksgiving. NaNoWriMo.
Yepppp.
I'm so excited. Seriously.
Like, have you seen the trailers?? Have you read the books?? Have you seen the last episode?? I need to know!! Curiosity is KILLING ME!!! What is Day gonna do? Why is Thor so desperate he turns to Loki? How are Rose and Ten gonna come back without tearing apart the universe? Will this book-to-movie adaption of Ender's Game make me burn with fury or joy?

Annnnnd I don't mind seeing more of Loki and Thor and David Tennant's hair. u_u

Look at dat hair

And HSM, which means tech week and missing school. :D Performing. Just all around awesomeness.

Today was Mom's birthday, which we celebrated with this gorgeous cupcakes. This wasn't the only kind either. Y'all should go to Small Cakes, it's flipping amazing.

Halloween!!!

Crey and Holly designing the jack-o-lantern face

Mac in his costume being creepy

Me (Clara) and Mac

Two really bad pictures from the party last night.

And the epic shirt

It's October? When Did That Happen?

I mean I knew... but I didn't really comprehend this. I've been in school for two months. I've finished a musical. It's almost Halloween. Starbucks has Pumpkin Spice stuff. I'm wearing a sweater. I finished House of Hades. We had Barn Dance.

When did summer end??
Oh.
Like, two months ago.

Well, here's the bucket list. Italics means one of us did it, but not the others.

1. Make Ice Cream
2. Music Videos (Love Story)
3. Shaving Cream Fight
4. Drive-In Movie
5. Make Covers
6. Call Hogwarts Hotline (+17814524077)
7. Buy A Trampoline (We wish)
8. Messy Twister
9. Musical Movie Night (lol, every night we're together :)
10. Color Hair
11. Water Balloon Fight
12. Go Bowling
13. Do a Pinterest Craft
14. Tie-Dye Stuff
15. Make A Time Capsule
16. Take TONS of Pictures (of everything on this list)
17. Say Yes To Everything For A Day
18. Go Camping
19. Paint Balloon Fight
20. Princess Diaries Paint Dart Thing
21. Sidewalk Paint
22. Write Messages and Put Them In Balloons And Let the Balloons Go
23. Melted Crayon Art (FAILED)
24. Photo Bomb Random People
25. Prank Call
26. Midnight Premiere of Some Movie (PJASOM??)
27. Picnic
28. Make Butterbeer
29. Dance In the Rain
30. Bubbles
31. Photo Booth
32. Forts
33. Go To the Pet Store and Play With Puppies
34. Go On a Long Run, Followed by Jumping In The Pool (Holly wrote that)
35. Play in the Sprinkler
36. Cloud Gazing
37. Star Watching
38. Set off Fireworks
39. Sleep in a Tent Outside With S'mores and Friends
40. Catch Fireflies
41. Build a Puzzle
42. Ride in the back of a Pickup Truck
43. Take Food and Drinks to Giant Fort and Live There
44. Volunteer
45. Lemonade Stand
46. Write Letters
47. Send Postcards
48. Make Movies
49. Eat Cupcakes in Ice Cream Cones
50. Fly Kites
51. Try On Fancy Dresses (With Heels) and Take Pictures at the Mall
52. Blind Makeovers
53. Mani-Pedis On Each Other
54. Plant Tree
55. Climb Tree
56. All Nighter
57. Harry Potter Marathon
58. Watch a Sunrise and Sunset
59. Make a New Friend
60. Root Beer Float
61. Rollerblade
62. Ice Skate
63. Laser Quest
64. Watch Veggie Tales
65. Have A Treasure hunt
67. Explode a Bunch of Two-Liter Sodas (Holly wrote that too)
68. Finger Paint
69. Have a Pool Party
70. Homemade Sundaes
71. Make Bracelets/Necklaces
72. Make a Tire Swing
73. Get a Hammock
74. PJ Day - with breakfast for every meal (Holly)
75. Opposite Day - ice cream for breakfast (Holly)
76. Go Into an Elevator and push all the buttons. And don’t let anyone else on!!!
78. Go to the Arb
79. Create a Cool Band
80. Go on a Bike Ride to an Ice Cream Place
81. Go Skateboarding
82. Plant Flowers
83. Make Fun Artwork (THIS FAILED)
84. Minute to Win It
85. Rock River Rapids
86. HSM (all, or at least 2 and 3)

29 of 86. Not bad. And honestly, we did a lot less of sitting on our butts this summer. It was really good.

Summer is gone. Farewell, sleep, flip flops, Doctor Who marathons, swimming, hanging with Lilli everyday, a cute hat, a relatively clean room, spare time, finishing five books a week, and beautiful weather.

Hello sweaters, premieres, coffee, craziness, musicals, homework, friends, cold, boots (oh, wait. School rules. -_-), tights...

Now, I'm sleeping. Adios. 

Holly's Cross Country Meet

Well, we are at her meet, and I am FREEZING.
It's cold, and rainy, and cloudy. Holly's warming up with the rest of her team, and they all have these sweatsuits that are WAAY too big. They all look so cute and tiny... and then they run about a thousand times faster than I could.
Mac and I have been playing British Star Wars Ninjas which is epic.
Holly finished up with a time around 7:41, which is awesome.
Now to celebrate with donuts. :D

Fun times

One of my favorite parts about living in India ~ My friends and I can have a water balloon fight in November. And then eat cake. And then jump/get pushed into the pool with our clothes on. And then get cokes and just wander around. And then debone a chicken. And listen to Jesus Freak at the same time...and I think that's all we did. :) It was epicness!!! XD XD XD