Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!

Just watched the ball drop, hope you all have a fun and safe night, I also hope that you have a great new year!

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler is a story that involves friendships, boyfriends, parents, and family. It's a summer vacation right after two best friends Anna and Franky lose Matt. This story is a story about how secrets can hurt a friendship, you never know when your loved one won't be with you the next day, and of course dating Twenty boys in twenty days.

It's summer vacation, you're in California with your best friend

What can go wrong?

Last Random Dozen of 2009

Okay, I couldn't think of a title, so I had to borrow 2nd Cup of Coffee's title for the Random Dozen, so thanks :) ♥

1. Do you find it gross to share drinks with family? Friends? No I dont, my best friend, Emily, and I do it all the time, we call it a "handling" fee ;p

2. What have you learned this year? The God has a plan for you no matter what, and even though you might not like the plan the day he reviles it to you, that eventually it'll come together, and the plan was for the better.

3. When do you dismantle the Christmas decorations? When my mom says so.

4. Something you wish to accomplish before the end of 2009 is: Nothing, my first goal was to become a Librarian, which is done and I'm a librarian, so I don't have anything.

5. How do you feel about winter (after Christmas)? It's nice, not so busy.

6. Have you participated in after-Christmas sales? Yes, Bath & Body Works Buy 3 get 2 free! They're on there way here!!!

7. Do you have plans for New Year's Eve? Some sparkling grape juice, watching the ball drop, hey maybe I'll get a babysitting job.

8. Is there anything special awaiting you in January? A new year ;p

9. If your life this year was a movie, what category or genre would it be? (Romance, Comedy, Drama, Thriller, Suspense, Farcical, etc.) Drama, with moving and everything it is a total drama

10. How much time per day do you spend blogging? Not enough clearly, I'm do bad at blogging and then with my lifestyle, uh oh!

11. Who runs your household? My father

12. Share one hope/dream for 2010. To lose some weight, to find a job, and to continue volunteering at my library.

Musical Monday!

Today, I figured we would go to the classical genre of music. I chose this piece, because I got a keyboard (electric piano) for Christmas, and I was trying to figure out what to learn on it, and my grandfather gave me a book on how to learn music on the keyboard- - -So int he book this was one of the piece, I don't think I'm going to start here, but I will definitely play it!

Lost Generation by Jonathan Reed

I am part of a lost generation
and I refuse to believe that
I can change the world
I realize this may be a shock but
"Happiness comes from within"
is a lie, and
"Money will make me happy."
So in 30 years I will tell my children
they are not the most important thing in my life
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
work
is more important than
family
I tell you this
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
but this will not be true in my era
This is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
30 years from now, I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making
In the future
Environmental destruction will be the norm
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this earth
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope.

And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it!



Can't figure it out, read the poem again, but this time from the bottom up, so the last line then the line above it, etc. etc.

Living the Christmas Spirit

As you all know Christmas is upon us. This past weekend was a very busy and Christmasy weekend. My library was doing a Breakfast with Santa, my church had their Christmas Pageant, and then my mom and I went down to my old town to see my old church's Christmas Pageant. Since we had a snowstorm Saturday night, my mom and I were going to shovel out my grandfather. On our car ride down we noticed that CT got a lot more snow than we did at home, and not only was there more accumilation, but it was the wet heavy snow, while at home we got light and fluffy, powdery snow. While driving down mom looked at me and said "I hope someone shoveled him out, and we just need to do the walkway and the deck." I nodded. When we pulled into my grandfathers driveway it was plowed, someone from town plowed his driveway for him, we knew it was a blessing. We later learned that it was friends up the street that did it, and they also did it last snowstorm, when mom and I couldn't make it down. If that doesn't show the generosity from people and the Christmas maybe this other story will (it happened on the same day).

My library did a Breakfast with Santa, with the snowstorm Mrs. Tower was worried that the Santa would say he couldn't make it to the breakfast, but she called and he didn't say he wasn't. Come 8:30 (only 30 minutes before Santa arrives for the breakfast)Mr. Tower gets a phone call from Santa that he doesn't have 4-wheel drive and won't be able to make it, Mrs. Tower offers to pick him up, but he says that he isn't being Santa at all today. So now Mrs. Tower needs to find a Santa Claus in 30 minutes, before kids show up and ask for Santa. Within the 30 minutes a member of the towns Police Department, showed up in suit and everything to play Santa. Not only was he not asked to, but he stayed there longer than the first Santa would.

These two stories are true, they both happened on December 20th, 2009. In two different states, with two different people, but it shows that the everyone should live Christmas, and not just buy presents and attend parties, but to be kind, do things for other people without them asking, and to go the extra mile if it be plowing an elderly's drive or showing up as a Santa.

Remember He is always watching.

Merry Christmas!
Have a happy and safe holiday and new year!

By~C

Music Mondays!

Mom told me that I should keep it religious, so here is another religious song ;p



Livin' On a Prayer by Bon Jovi

Girl Scout Gold Award in Proccess

I'm in the process of earning my Girl Scout Gold Award, and one of the requirements is to start a buisness. So that is what I'm doing. My mom and I are currently selling prints on Deviant Art, and I'm making bracelets to sell on Etsy.com

If you want to buy one of the prints please go here If you want to check out my gallery go here and if you want to join Deviant Art go here

I'll get more updated stuff up and running, and I'll even get my etsy shop up, so if you want to help support me, buy a print or two!

Thanks,
C

HOME-SCHOOLING: Socialization not a problem - Washington Times

Here is a wonderfully supportive article for homeschoolers. It may be a good one to print off and have with you during this holiday season. When someone says, "But how are they socialized?" You can just hand them a copy of the article and ask them to read it before you will discuss the issue further. When there done, I their concerns may be gone. There next question may be, "and how do I start homeschooling my children?"

HOME-SCHOOLING: Socialization not a problem - Washington Times

HOME-SCHOOLING: Socialization not a problem - Washington Times

Here is a wonderfully supportive article for homeschoolers. It may be a good one to print off and have with you during this holiday season. When someone says, "But how are they socialized?" You can just hand them a copy of the article and ask them to read it before you will discuss the issue further. When there done, I their concerns may be gone. There next question may be, "and how do I start homeschooling my children?"

HOME-SCHOOLING: Socialization not a problem - Washington Times

Random Dozen

I have to say, this Random Dozen is perfect in timing, I was just trying to think of a blog, and then it hit me "2nd Cup of Coffee" has their Random Dozen, for me it does not feel like a Wednesday, more like a weekend. I guess that day I spent in Connecticut really messed me up- - -Oh well.

1. Gingerbread: For or against? I like making the little women and men, and decorating them- - - It's fun to, so I think I'm for.

2. Is it important to you to always stay (live) close to family? Yes it is, very much

3. Which holiday pretend character do you wish really existed? Heat Miser and Snow Miser, or the Elves from Prep and Landing!

4. Which holiday movie best represents how you feel about Christmas or life? A Christmas Story or A Christmas Charlie Brown

5. Is there a particular Christmas song that you're enjoying now? Any that you're tired of? Well there is the Advent Candle Song, that my old church sings, and I want my new church to sing, but then there is Dominic the Donkey, a song that my father loves dearly, and drives me insane!

6. What is your favorite way to remember those less fortunate at Christmastime? When I make my Christmas list, I try to put at least one request for a non-profit organization- - -for example this year I asked for a 2010 Kiva calendar, and for books that I could donate to my local library.

7. Does it upset you to see "Xmas" instead of Christmas? No it doesn't, because "X" is an abbreviation from the greek word Χριστός, which means Christ. So the abbreviation "X" is shorthand for Christ, so we're not taking Christ out of Christmas.

8. How many Christmas programs are you attending this month? Well lets see- - -I performed in two at Old Sturbridge Village, My family was the advent family at church, I'm the narrator for my church's Xmas pageant, and I'm convincing my family to see the old church's Xmas Pageant (because it is a musical), and we're attempting to go to the midnight service at 11:00 at the church up here- - -So all in all 6!

9. Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Any chance of that dream becoming a reality? Yes, and I really hope so, we've already gotten a huge snow storm- - -We haven't had a white Xmas for a while.

10. Tell me about a Christmas present you received as a child. Pics are always nice. I don't know of any that any really stay in my memory- - -Well I lied, a couple Christmas' ago, I got two American Girl Dolls Felicity and Elizabeth, and the boxes that they were in looked like they went through a lot to get to my house, I thanked my mom and dad for getting me it and my father asks "Are they broken?" I look at him and say "No, why?" His lovely response to a little 11 year old girl, "Because UPS put them in the car port and I ran over them by accident". Sometimes you just got to love my family!

11. How many Christmas parties are you attending this month? None! Well we might attend one, but I don't think it's going to work out.

12. How do you keep yourself centered on the significance of Christmas? I go to church weekly, my family has started a new tradition, by going to the 11:00 service on Christmas Eve, and just being religious, it isn't my birthday, it's Jesus!

Calling Adults by their Last Name

As mom, I suppose that I should put my two cents in here. I have come to the conclusion that for the most part adults should be called by their last names unless otherwise instructed by the adult. And frankly, too many adults are too free in allowing children to call them something else. Using the last name implies respect and a differentiation between the generations.

I know if you are under 35 or so, you are thinking that is why I have them call me by my first name. I want them to think of me as one of the them. But I'm here to say that you think you want that, but this may not be the best course of action for you or for them. So many people complain about this newest generations' "respect", but if they were never taught respect how can they show it. Calling someone Mr. or Mrs. may seem minor, but it has larger implications that affect behavior. Using a title shows that you may have something to learn from them as they have been here longer and may have gleaned more wisdom. Using Mr. or Mrs. also reminds us to be on better behavior, to watch our language, and to be thoughtful in our topics of conversation. If everyone is our "friend" and we can be loose all the time, these skills can become forgotten. Without titles, behavior and speech becomes kind of like an anything goes game and then when you need the respect it is hard to regain it. Sometimes it is there for us to be reminded that we are not one of them and that it is not appropriate to pretend that we are.


I enjoy being friendly with the younger generations like DD, but they and I know that there is a boarder to this. I must admit that I was not always like this. A friend of ours actually, brought it to our attention through Scouts and was adamant that people of authority should be called by their title. I was hesitant to become old and add a title to my name, but I had to admit that I saw a difference in the way the kids responded to him vs the other leaders. Soon we all adapted to the labels and ironically, sometimes we even call each other Mr. and Mrs. Please note that this does not mean that we don't have just as much fun with the kids. We do, but they know who is in charge and that we take that job very seriously. They know that they are safe and that the adults are taking care of them. They know that one day they will reach the same precipice and have earned the same respect and will have the honor of carrying the same title.

By,
Dawn AKA Mom

Musical Monday!

Today's Musical Monday will be a song that my church is singing this upcoming Sunday. My mom sang this song when she was in High School, and I simply like the song. Enjoy :)

Musical Monday's!

Okay, I know I'm not the best at keeping up the days and their theme, but this time I'll try to be really good at it, I'll even write it on my calendar to remind myself, what to write as a blog. So I'm going to introduce Musical Mondays! Each Monday I'll post a video or something that involves music. So I'm starting it today! Enjoy :)



Highway to Hell by AC/DC

Should Kids Call Adults By Their First Name?

Throughout my life, I've been told to call adults multiple things, Mr., Mrs., Mizz, or by their first name. As I was a pre-teen I called my employeer by her first name, I was told by my father that I should call adults by their last name, and not by their first. So I attempted to call R. by her last name, and she told me "C., you can call me by my first name, if you call me by my last name you remind me of my monther-in-law." So I reminded calling R., by her first name, and I still do. My minister from my old town I remember being a 7 year old, an going up to him and saying "Mr. Reverend R." and Elven asked me to call him Elven, but then we have friends that they perfer to be called Mr. and Mrs., which I started calling them Mr. and Mrs. Since I moved up to MA, I went into the library and I've been calling Mrs. T., Mrs. T, a couple months into volunteering at the library, she asked me to call her S. I responded "Okay, but if you don't mind, I would perfer if I could call you Mrs. T., you have a way to connect with kids, but still show authority." Mrs. T. said that that was alright, but now I want to hear from the adults and kids that read this blog.

Do you think that kids should be allowed to call adults by their first name?

Snow! Snow Days! Cancelations- - -

Yesterday, it snowed enough that the surrounding schools and the private school my next door neighbor goes to all closed. For me, I was only hoping for a delay, yes I'm homeschooled, but the reason for the delay was that I could then still go to the library, but as the weather got worse and worse that day, I gave up on the library (I also got a call that they were opening late at 3:00) and my younger brother and I started playing outside, within the first two hours the youngest girl from next door came out and played with us, we sleded, made a snowman (that I named Inner-child, so I can always find my inner-child), started snowball fights, and I wrote stuff in the snow. After a couple more hours outside, M., J., and I went inside and we had some nice hot apple cider and played some board games. M. went back home to shovel her driveway with the rest of her family, Arond 4:30 I went backoutside to help M, J, and M.'s older sister Je. build another snowman. We were outside for even longer as it got darker, we started a snowball fight agian, after we finished making the snowman (which looks like Mr. Moneybanks from Monopoly). Jake and I didn't go back inside untill 5:30/6:00.

Yesterday was the funnest day so far. I can't wait untill another snowday, because that one will be twice as much fun!

Did you get snow yesterday? If, so what did you do?

A Dream Come True

Since moving to Massachusetts, I made sure that I would continue to volunteer at my local library. I've now been volunteering at my local library for 7 months. I've dreamt of becomming a librarian for a couple years, and I've even requested some college information about degrees in Library Science and all that fun stuff. At my new library everyone has a Sub-professional librarianship degree, which states that you are a librarian without an M. L.S., to get your Sub-professional librarianship degree, you have to work/voulnteer at a library for 6 months. Once I hit that 6 months point, I filled out an application and sent it into the Board of Library Commissioners. It took a couple weeks, but I finially got an email saying that the board will review my application in their December board meeting. I couldn't wait, their board meeting was on the third, and I was leaving for a Boy Scout Trip on the 4th, and I hoped that I would know if I was a librarian or not by then, but as I closed out my email on the 4th, no such email came in letting me know. Mom did tell multiple times that they might not approve me because of my young age, I'm a teenager and there is a lot of age biasts out there. Once I was back home from camping, I check my email- - -Still no email from the MBLC (Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners), it wasn't untill yesterday, when I was helping mom unload the car with grocerys that I saw a manlia evenlope (big enough to fit a certificate in) laying upsidedown, being the nosy little teenager I am I flipped it over and it was addressed to me,

"Who would be sending me stuff in manila evenlopes?" I thought as I read the return address label, I screamed! I quickly, but gentily opened up the envelope and inside it was my certificate! I was soooo happy, I'm now offically a librarian.

So for all of you readers of this blog, if you have a dream go follow it, you never know what might happen.

And for all of thoes librarians out there- Hi!

I guess I had a dream come true, and now the bigger question is, do I want to become a librarian in the long-run- - -It would be a pretty cool job!

By ~C

Book Reviews-A Dog's Life

Okay, I figured if I'm going to read so many books, why not write reviews for the people who read the blog. I'm going to post a review after every book, or try to at least, that I read.

A Dog's Life by Ann M. Martin


A Dog's Life is an autobiography of a stray, this books is written by the dog, Squirell, and her life as a stray. It was a quick read for me, only about 182 pages long, but it is powerful. Ann M. Martin wrote this book very well, I couldn't put the book down! The thought of this being a book of fiction is imaginable. Ann M. Martin does a great job making you feel the emotions and pain that the dog goes through in her life. I highly reccomend this book.


Did you read this book? Tell me what you thought about it!

Christmas Songs-Sad, Funny, Classic

Three videos, three songs, three emotions.
The videos below are three of my favorite Christmas songs. Enjoy!



Christmas Shoes by New Song- - -If this song doesn't already bring tears to your eyes, this video will do it.



I Want a Hippopatamus for Christmas By Gayla Peevey- - -This song is one of my favorties.



Dominick the Donkey by Lou Monte- - -My dad loves this song.

To get you into the Christmas Spirit

Hope you enjoied!

It's 10:00, Do you know where your inner child is?

Last week at the library, we decorated for the holidays. While decorating Mrs. Tower and I were talking- - -Let me rephrase that, Mrs. Tower was telling me that I can't decorate (She's right, I can't really decorate for Christmas) and that I needs to be symmetrical. I can't accomplish that one little bit, so while we were decorating, and I couldn't hang my end of a garland, Mrs. Tower asked me, if I could get my inner-child to help me decorate. I responded that I can't find my inner-child currently, and that I'll have to look later. This conversation went on for another ten minutes, about how a teenager can't find her inner-child, but the mom of two kids kept onto her inner-child. After we finished decorating, Mrs. Tower asked if I wanted to make paper snowflake, but she quickly added that my inner-child isn't home, so I probably wouldn't want to do it, I was surprised that I got to make paper snowflakes, something that I haven't done since I was 5, I responded overjoyed and said that I would love to make them. My reaction surprised Mrs. Tower. Mrs. Tower asked me why I loved making paper snowflakes- - -My response;; "I made them as a little girl, the last time I made them was when I was five, with my Grandmother in the basement in our old town. I remember doing it, I guess we found a little part of my inner-child." This revalation enlightened Mrs. Tower, but also set her into a mission, she was going to find all of my inner-child, if it was going to be the death of her.

I came home, with a little part of my inner-child and explained all of this to my mom, which she said that we need to find the rest also! I convinced her that if we made cookies I could find some more. The cookies that I love, and my mother dislikes- - -The Pillsbury Cut-N-Bake (Well they're no longer cut-n-bake, but they were!)

These cookies I also made with my grandmother. The memories are countless, we would cut thicker cookies, and eat one or two raw here and there, she would help me cut the cookies, etc. etc. I've always loved the taste and the memories that come with it. We went to the store later that night for other items, and I got three boxes of these cookies, I made two on Friday, and one on Sunday. I think I've found the rest of my inner-child, and mom will be picking more up today at the store!

Have you embraced you're inner-child yet? It's the best time of the year to!

So since it's 10:00

Do You Know Where You're Inner-Child is?

Random Dozen-Whatever number we're on-

This weeks Random Dozen from 2nd Cup of Coffee.

1. Which physical trait do you now accept--maybe not love, but accept--and no longer feel extremely self-conscious about? My Inner-Child- - -Does that count?

2. This week Meredith Baxter Birney, best known as the mom on the favorite 80s sitcom "Family Ties" came out of the closet, which led me to formulate this question: Who do you think is/was the best TV mom? I loved the mom in the Grady Bunch

3. Do you speak any foreign languages? Are there any you'd like to learn? Speak no, attempting to learn yes, Latin. I would say any languge Sweedish would be a cool languge to learn how to speak.

4. Who is your personal hero? Hero, I don't know- - -Some I look up to, There are a few, and for different reasons. Currently Mrs. Tower

5. What is one holiday food that you find extremely difficult to resist over- indulging in? Thanksgiving/Christmas/When ever there is Pumpkin Pie involved ;p

6. Tell me about a Christmas decoration that has special meaning or sentimental value. The Carolers

This year we just got them from my grandfather. My grandmother and I used to put them up and I remember doing it, it was something I always loved doing, but ever since she passed away in 2001, my grandfather only put them up once. My mom has tried to get them earlier, but my grandfather wouldn't let them go, needless to say they are now all up for the first time in a long time, and I have my favortite up in my bedroom.

7. How do you feel about snow? It changes with my mood, I usually don't like it, but it makes the earth so pretty, its hard not to like/love snow.

8. On average, how many hours of sleep do you get each night? Not that I'm jealous of any number over three or anything. Ummm, it depends. . .I would say around 10, but that is only beacuse I'm going to be at 7:30 and waking up at 5:00/6:00am

9. Tell me about your first crush. - - -Hmmm it was at an acting class, and we were talking about teenagers dating and if they should, or shouldn't date, and then he told me that he like me, and I was thinking "Wow, you're such an idiot, you're talking about teenagers that shouldn't be dating and you like him, and he just asked you it! Way to go!". Needless to say, I intoduced Jordan to my mom who picked my up, and Jordan to my dad next class when he picked me up. Both of my parents approved, and we went out for a little bit.

10. You're stuck in a room for 2 hours with only a chalkboard and chalk. What will you write/draw? Do I have a bed? Well if I had to write, I would start writing stuff that I needed to do, or continue my novel.

11. Do you dress for the current temp or for the day's forecast? For the day's forecast, there is no point in dressing for a cold morning, only to learn that it's going to be a nice day.

12. Favorite Christmas movie is? "The classics" that air on ABC Family

Elf Yourself 2

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Hope you enjoied! For thoes who are wondering who the younger boy is that dances with my brother, that is a picture of my father when he was 7 years old.

Could you keep a straight face watching this? Well I couldn't!

Advent Season is Upon Us

The Advent Season is upon us, and a tradition in my old church was when we light the advent candles we sang a song. With moving, and moving to a new church, we left behind the song, but now I finally have all four verses and hopefully we can bring a new tradition to our new church.

Light the Advent candle one,
now the waiting has begun.
We have started on our way,
time to think of Christmas Day.

Candle, candle burning bright,
shining in the cold winter night.
Candle, candle burning bright,
fill our hearts with Christmas light.

Light the Advent candle two,
think of humble shepherds who,
filled with wonder at the sight,
of the child on Christmas night.

Candle, candle burning bright,
shining in the cold winter night.
Candle, candle burning bright,
fill our hearts with Christmas light.

Light the Advent candle three
Think of heavenly harmony
Angels singing "Peace on Earth"
At the Blessed Saviour's Birth.

Candle, candle burning bright,
Shining in the cold winter night.
Candle, candle burning bright
Fill our hearts with Christmas light.



Light the Advent candle four
Think of joy forevermore
Christ Child in a stable born
Gift of love that Christmas morn.



Candle, candle, burning bright,
shining in the cold winter night
Candle, candle burning bright
Fill our hearts with Christmas light.

Conneticut to Massachusetts Comparison 7

The State



This is the final CT to MA Comparison, and I have to say I'm sorry for not getting this up early, but the holiday season is upon us, if you haven't figured it out already. While we were moving, I was upset that it wasn't the next town over, but now that I have lived in MA for the past 7 months, I'm glad that we moved, sure we lost some things, but we gained some more. I've been thinking about what if's in life, and just being me I came up with a quote, that explains it all.

"Think about the "what ifs" in life, because if you don't,

you don't know how blessed you really are."

Conneticut to Massachusetts Comparison 6

Church

I still find myself calling UCD "my" church, instead of BCC. I still participate in the old church, I get emials, I'm hopefully going to see their Xmas Pagent, and I'm hopefully going to their KY Trip next summer. With the new church, I haven't found my place in it yet. I'm helping out with the Sunday School, and just last Sunday my mom and I brought Operation Christmas Child into the church, and we delievered all the boxes Monday, but it stil doesn't feel like home. I've been asked multiple time what I like about the new town, and I respond the Library, but then I always get ask, "Have you found a church yet?" I wan't to answer "no", but we're part of the church, weather I like it or not. If it wasn't for UCD I wouldn't have 90% of religion in my life as I do today.

Conneticut to Massachusetts Comparison 5

My Love of Horses

In CT I started Horseback riding when I was 10ish. The late quit when I was 12ish, because I was a busy child inbetween baseball, Girl Scouts, soccer, basketball, school, Sunday School, Jr. Choir, Church, My job, and homework, there wasn't much time for me to horseback ride, and plus the owner of the barn focused more on selling the horses then having the rider build up a relationship with her horse.

Now in MA, three doors up my road there is a horse recuse. CNEER is the best! CNEER buys horses from slaughter, helps the horse to become well behaved, and healthy, and then the horse is put up for adoption. The owner of the rescue is glad that I live so close, because eventually we'll build up a relationship and when she is going somewhere, and can't remember if she put the horses in, she could call to me double check. Even though we don't have land for a horse, and dad doesn't want a horse, I can have seven horses three doors up, and I can play with them and give them all the love that they need!

Conneticut to Massachusetts Comparison 4

Choir

The church choir in CT, is larger than the church choir here in MA, 12 more people bigger if you start counting. The choir in CT was directed my Jill. Jill has known me for ages. I was in Jr. Choir, and when I dragged my mother into Sr. Choir, I was dragged with her, but Jill has a way to conduct us that helps you, unlike in the MA choir, mom and I have gone home some times saying "Jill wouldn't have done that" or "Mom, I miss Jill". When you sing with Jill and mess a part up she would stop playing, and then go over the part for each section. Needless to say, the church choir up here in MA, is very small, very diffrent, and there is no Jr. Choir for me.

Conneticut to Massachusetts Comparison 3

Girl Scout Troop

I love Girl Scouts, my mom has been through it, and has brought one troop through and has another troop with her daughter, me. Up here in MA it was very hard to find an "older girl" troop, needless to say we still haven't found one, but there is a Girl Scout troop in the area, but they're 1st years and 4 years younger than me, so there isn't really a friendship there, it's just "oh, well you're the only troop in the area." The main troop in CT has been together since Kindergaten. We've built huge friendships, we laugh, cry, and laugh some more when we're together. The friendships that I've built in CT, I hope I can make then up here.

Conneticut to Massachusetts Comparison 2

The House

The house in CT was a small raised ranch, and we've upgraded for a huge reproduction colenial. When we were moving, I hated my parents. I couldn't believe that they were uprooting me, I'm a teenager! I have friends, and now I need to leave them! I couldn't believe it! With moving up here, I've learned a lot of new things, met new people, and growing stronger in my faith. While moving I prayed to God nightly, always asking him "why?" I never got an answer back, or maybe I did and I didn't realize it, but with the past 6 months in the new house I think I've answered that question all by myself.

Yes I did lose one closet while in CT, but I got a larger closet! Then again, if I move to the other bedroom, not only would I get a bigger bed, a larger room, two closets, and a t.v., but I would also be helping someone. My family is in the process of becoming a foster family, and my parents want the foster child in the main house, so I'm moving above the garage, to the bigger room. I've slept over there the past couple nights and I love it!

With moving, I might have lost a small home, a hometown, but I've gained a larger home, a second hometown, a second library, a second life!

CNN: Boy Won't Pledge Aligence

Amazing!

Conneticut to Massachusetts Comparison

I'm going to start a week long project that shows things in my life that has changed with moving. I'll explain each item and how it's affected my life.

The Library

As you can see the major fact is the size. The library in CT is larger that my current library. This past weekend I was back in my hometown and I dragged my gandfather to the library. I was bombarded with questions from the librarians. The YA Librarian was happy to hear that I'm volunteering at the library, and that I applied to become a Sub-Professional Librarian. I'm glad that I was able to go back to my library, it was nice, but for some reason the small library I have back at home has a strong connection with me.

The library up here is small, bbut it has character. I know the whole staff and %70 of the board. I've met patrons, and I've made friends.

The past couple days I've been thinking of the "what ifs" in life. The major one for me is "what is the library on the other side of town wasn't closed?" The only reason that I'm volunteering at the library I am now, instead of the one on the other side of town, was because that one was closed, and when I learned that we had another library I pestered my mother to drive me. Even though my first words in my library was "mom, it's small". I've learned that size doesn't matter, its who works there that matters.

I might have downsized my library, but I've learned more here than I would have in CT.

By: C

Prime Rib Dinner Update

Per my agreement with you guys, I would tell you how the Prime Rib Dinner went. Well it went great! I didn’t mess up at all! I will definitely be waitressing the future. I even have a picture of me and my friend V in out uniforms.

I’m on the right. We made over $1,000 more than what is needed for out printer! I’m soooo happy!

By C

Prime Rib Dinner

As you all know, my library has been undergoing some budget cuts, and just recently we closed the budget gap, and now we are having another fundraiser tonight. The Prime Rib Dinner will hopefully be a huge success. The main reason for this fundraiser is that our printer stinks. And gets very moody, we learned that from the last fundraiser (Auction). Hopefully we will make over $650, and we will be getting a 4 in 1 printer soon. Wish us luck, and I will let you know how it goes, and hope that as I waitress tonight, I won’t make a fool of myself.

By C

Random Dozen

This Random Dozen is from 2nd Cup of Coffee, a blog that both my mom and I love to read, and recently I've been posting her Random Dozens. Not only are they funny, buy you can learn a little about the person.

Random Dozen

1. It's early morning, about 2:00AM, and you're driving home. You come to a red light and sit there. There is no one in sight for miles around. Do you wait it out or run the light? Wait until the green light comes on! My luck if I ran it, there would be a cop sitting at the gas sation, or somehwere close by with his lights off, and I would get the ticket.

2. If you had the chance to re-do the last 24 hours, would you change anything? Yes, I would have done more dishes, so mom wouldn't have to.

3. When you reply to someone's comment on your blog, do you reply in your comments or go to her blog and comment? (Or email her) I would reply on my blog, my mom emails them.

4. Your favorite Disney movie is: hmmmm. . . All of them, can’t really have a favorite.

5. Do you recycle? Yes

6. Games of strategy or games of chance? Strategy

7. Do you have any recurring dreams? Yes, a few

8. What did you learn from your first real job? First real job, hasn’t happened yet, unless you count the volunteering at the library.

9. Do you buy or borrow most books? I get them from my library, buying books that I’ll read is too expensive!

10. What fashion trend of the past did you say you'd never wear again but did? Leggings, I never wore leggings and I didn't plan to, untill my jean skirt got too short for my parents to approve. So to make the situation better, I was able to put leggings on under the skirt, and pull the skirt down a little!

11. When do you start Christmas shopping? Whenever, if we find something we buy it!

12. Have you ever been so happy that you literally jumped up and down for a few seconds? If so, what was the occasion? Yes, I was going to a Red Soxs game in Boston, MA with my best friend Emily!

Science Report

EETimes.com - The blind shall see, the deaf shall hear

I'm doing a Science Report for school about Miracles, and the last section of the report is going to be Medicine Expanding into Miracles. This article was introduced to me by my librarian Mrs. Tower! Thank you sooo much Mrs. Tower! Nueral Implants are helping the blind see and the deaf hear, which have been miracles in the Bible multiple times.

Enjoy! Back to my report

By: C

Random Dozen

Another Random Dozen from 2nd Cup of Coffee

1. Tell me something about your favorite teacher. She has two kids, she lives down the hall from me, and she loves me very much. . . If you haven’t figured it out she’s my mother
2. Tell me about one pivotal moment in your life. Ummm I don’t know!
3. About favorite colors--a lot of people will ask you what it is, but I want to know why it is. What feeling or memory does it evoke? Ummm I think mine is Blue or Pink, but I don’t know the feeling.
4. What's a sure sign that you're getting older? I’m tired!!!
5. Please don't sermonize, but Halloween--is it a yes or no for you? Yes
6. What's your favorite musical? Rent (Currently)
7. Are you more of a city mouse or country mouse? Both. . . Part of me wants to be in the city the other part loves the country
8. Did you know that it is possible, for a small fee, to name a real star after someone? (It's true! Google it!) If someone were to name a star for you, would you appreciate it for its whimsy and romance, or would you say, "Are you kidding me? For $19.95 we could have gone to the movie and actually bought popcorn." It would be nice to have a star named after me, but I would say he took it from the Magical School Bus
This question comes from Paula at His Ways Are Not Our Ways.
9. What's the craziest thing you've ever been doing and texted during it? I only thought of this b/c I was about to try to text during my walking video but I didn't. Nothing considering I don’t own a cell phone yet.
10. "It's not a party unless _______." There is good music
11. When you're stuck in traffic or a waiting room, what do you do to pass the time? PS: There are no magazines available. Listen to my music, or make a friendship bracelet
12. If you weren't yourself, would you be friends with you? Yes

Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

As you all know today is Halloween and since I am a teenager, most of us all dress up, but of course with moving and everything I’ve forgotten about Halloween. So today I’ll go dig through my closet, to see what I can throw together in about 10 hours. So far I’ve can pull together a Girl Scout

a Waitress, or an American Idol Contestant with a Golden Ticket.

What are you going to be for Halloween?

By: C

Funraising Ideas!

As you guys know, my library has been going under some budget cuts, and to fill in the gap from the budget cuts, we have been doing a lot of fundraising. So to help them out, I had to use my resources wisely and use my contacts. My Uncle works at Uno’s and sells Pampered Chef, two things that can fundraise. Pampered Chef would be a wonderful Catalog party since we don’t have the room for a demonstration, and Uno’s has a dough raiser, which you choose a night for your organization, hand out vouchers, and everyone who shows up on that night, part of the proceeds will go towards your organization.

Check into some of local fundraisers that can help out an organization that you are a part of.
Sincerely,
C

Young Adult Books

The Library that I volunteer for is having budget cuts; we just recently met the gap that the town left us with. I’m the only young adult who volunteers . . . Let me fix that sentence I am the only volunteer at this library, and the director is convinced that she cannot pick out good Young Adult (YA) books for the YA section, so she has told me that if I get her a list of books that appeal to me, she will go through it and buy them, so yesterday when I was volunteering she handed me two magazines Library Journal and Publisher’s Weekly, I was instructed to read the reviews and to circle the books that I liked. Once I got home from the library, I immediately went to Barnes and Noble online to see what bestsellers they had, so far I have a couple titles, and this is where you come in. If you have/know of any good books for Young Adults let me know, I will gladly pass it on to the director, and you never know your book might be the newest “new” book in the library.
Sincerely,
C

What's Your Opinion?

I have to ask; recently President Obama won the Noble Peace Prize for thinking about peace (thinking no doing). How do you feel on this issue? Let me know your opinion.

How to Write a Novel (or Not to)

Six months ago, I started writing, I didn’t expect what I was writing would actually turn into something that is something like a novel. One of the reasons that I started writing was because of the move that I was going through. My family and I moved from my small little hometown in Connecticut, into a smaller town in Massachusetts. During the move and selling the house, I didn’t want to move, I didn’t even want to think about moving. To express my feelings, and not blowing up at my mother I started writing, within the past six months I have writing over 136 pages in this book. It mainly just started from my thinking ‘hey wouldn’t it be a cool idea to write a novel?’ Don’t get me wrong it is a cool idea, but there is a lot of work that goes into it. I’ve broken my novel up into three parts, and it’s more of a fictitious memoir, then a novel.

Within the three sections (50 pages at minimum) the main character Caelyn goes from hating moving, hating the new town, into loving the new town, and she becomes glad that she moved. I’ve only finished two parts of the story, and I’m working on the last section, but my mom decided that we should go through some sentence structure and paragraphs, Yay! (Not really). I have to admit that I stink no suck at spelling and language arts as a whole; it’s always been my downfall even in 1st and 2nd grade. If it wasn’t for spell check right now, you might be looking at some words and thinking ‘what is this girl on?!’ Needless to say, the editing of my novel is harder than I thought, mom and I are going through about 112 pages for only the two finished sections, and then we have about another 50 pages to complete after I finish the last section. I highly recommend when writing a story know sentence structure, and how to spell . . . It helps . . . A lot!

Now I’m not a famous writer who’s blogging just for the heck of it, but I will give some of those aspiring writers out there some tips, that I have learned throughout the past six months.
1. Know Sentence Structure (It helps!)

2. Write when you have muse, I’ve had days that I’ve written for hours on end, and other where I just can’t think of one paragraph to write.

3. Write in paragraphs, not sentences, you want the story to flow, so instead of writing ‘The Cat ate. The Cat went outside’, write ‘The fat black cat, sat at his window and ate his food. Once he was done he hopped down with a loud ‘thud’ and went outside.’ Which one do you like better?

4. There will be a lot of edits, editing isn’t a onetime deal, you may need to go over it 6 or 7 times, before you even send it into an editor

5. Set yourself a Goal (I only know this from Girl Scouts), for example I have to make a SMART Goal for my Gold Award in Girl Scouts, and I incorporated my story into one of the SMART Goals, SMART Goal: By January 1st 2010 I will have finished the half of the last part in my novel, by writing at least 3 pages a day to get half way through the last part of my novel so that I can get one step closer to revising it and hopefully publishing it. The SMART Goal is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timey

6. Have a rough draft of your story, before you go into writing it, unlike me who didn’t really think about it until my mom asked me. For example my Novel is called Moving as a Teenager;;My Life;;Told By Me, it is broken into three 50 page sections Section One: Connecticut-CT is about Caelyn learning she is moving, and absolutely hates it! Section Two: Connecticut to . . . To. . To. . . –CT to. . .to . . To . . . is about Caelyn living in MA, but wanting her life in CT to be there more, she becomes a bitch to her family, and says that she hates it here. Section Three: Massachusetts- MA is when Caelyn learns that MA isn’t that bad, she finds things in her life that make her realize that she has two lives, one in CT, and one in MA, but she likes the MA one better.

7. When you are given critiques, don’t get upset, they’re there to help you! I only know this from personal knowledge, I have a way of getting worked up when people critique me or something that I have accomplished

8. Ignore that Word Count! If you are writing and just can’t stop, ignore the word count, don’t look at the word count until you are done for the day, or done with the piece that you have written, for me all my sections are roughly over 50 pages, I didn’t look at the section CT until around 60/70 pages in.

9. You can do it! No matter what people say you can do it! Don’t let them stop you, just keep on doing it, eventually your writing will be finished, and you can show the doubters that look you finished it despite what they said! Quote to help: “There’s always going to be another mountain I’m always going to want to make it move Always going to be an uphill battle, Sometimes I'm going to have to lose,”

10. Focus, for me focus comes with music, when I sit down and plan to write me story for at least an hour, I turn on the local radio station, or open up I-tunes.

11. To make your story more interesting add in little things from your hometown. For example my hometown has a coffee shop called Perk on Main, I featured Perk On Main (with permission from the owner) in my story, Perk became the place where Caelyn goes to hang out.

12. Go for the Gold! You might finish editing and everything, and think ‘oh well, it’s not that good.’, don’t let it take space up in your computer, bring it to an editor, send it to a publisher, you never know your book just might be what that one publisher is looking for!

I hope that if you’re writing a story that you continue, if you’re not writing one you might want to, or if you’re publishing one that these hints might have helped, but just remember “There’s always going to be another mountain”, so don’t give up.

By: C

P.S. there are 1,141 words in this post P:

Random Dozen!

Today, my mom found a Random Dozen on 2nd Cup of Coffee. My mom posted it on her blog, Just Call Me Woman, and I found it intresting, so I'll post it on here.

1.Candy corn: Your thoughts? It’s amazing!

2. Briefly, what was the first conversation you ever had with your spouse? (or best friend, if you're not married.) (Or someone significant, like your librarian.) ummm. . .Best Friend I don’t remember (sorry Em), but my new librarian, would be when we moved into the town, and I begged my mother to drive me to the library, I asked the librarian if I could Volunteer, and let’s just say teenage volunteers in our town aren’t what they used to be in CT.

3. Could you ever become a vegetarian? I don’t think so, I like meat a little too much.

4. Have you ever dressed up your pet in a costume? No, but I have thought about it.

5. Name something about childhood that you miss (like Clark Bars, Teaberry Gum, Malibu Barbie, cracking fake eggs on people's heads with your fist and "It's the Great Pumpkin" airing only once a year).
I’m still in my childhood! But I would put down . . . Being a cute little Girl Scout :-p

6. Have you ever won a trophy? If not, what do you deserve a trophy for? The most recent trophy would be my Marksmanship 4th class, in Rifle.

7. When do you think is the appropriate time to begin playing Christmas music each year? On December 25th ONLY!

8. What's your favorite board game? Monopoly

9. How do you feel about surprises (receiving, not giving)? I love them!

10. Is it easy for you to say, "I'm sorry?" Yes a little too easy.

11. What is your favorite candle scent? Pumpkin Pie

12. October is traditionally "open house" time in public schools. If you had a literal open house in your home (like a reception) what light snacks would you serve visitors and what would you show them (as in art projects, graded papers) that would uniquely represent you? I would serve. . .Hot Apple Cider and what would I show? Hmmmm Books, Horses, Books, and Music.

"My" Blank

Since I moved I’ve learned that I called everything in my old town, “my”, for example
My Library DPL
My Church UCD
My minister Elven
My Choir Director Jill
My Hometown
With moving, and being in limbo, I’ve been able to drop the My blank, I now say “My old minister Elven” etc, but I’ve only been able to replace one “my” in the new town, and that’s been the library, I now call WWPL “MY” Library. I was recently informed by the director of the library, that I talk less and less about DPL (my old library). In between my real life and the life I’ve been portraying in my story, I have written myself a four year contract as a volunteer to the library (even thou they don’t know it). Since I was entering H.S. I was debating if I should go back to school, and it ended up being between the Publc School, a Private school, and being homeschooled. One day in Kentucky on our way back home I called my mom, she said that she stopped at the library and talked to the director, and the director told my mom that she didn’t want to give me too much work, for fear that the library will lose me, and I would decided to go to school. Needless to say, that made my decision. I figured that if the library loves me that much, I don’t think that I could watch myself “give up” on my library. The moral of the story, for whoever is reading this is well, go to the library in your town, and make you “your” library, not the town’s library.
By: C

A Week In a Homeschooler's Life-Day Seven

Day Seven
6:15 Woke up, got ready for a run
7:00 Running
8:00 Making Coffee
9:00 Shower
10:00 Brushing my Hair
11:00 Making Lunch (Fried Rice)
12:00 Volunteering at the Library
1:00 Volunteering at the Library
2:00 Volunteering at the Library
3:00 Volunteering at the Library
4:00 Playing the Computer
5:00 Playing the Computer
6:00 Eating Dinner
7:00 Choir Rehearsal
8:00 Choir Rehearsal
9:00 Talking To Dad
9:10 Bed Time!!!

I hope that gives you a little inside on what a teenager's life as a homeschooler is :-p

A Week In a Homeschooler's Life-Day Six

Day Six
7:00 Wake up, got ready for a run, going for a run
8:00 Got back from a run & Showering
9:00 Writing a new Blog =]
10:00 Babysitting Chloe-Cooking Cookies
11:00 Babysitting Chloe- Playing Outside
12:00 Babysitting Chloe- Eating Lunch
1:00 Babysitting Chloe
2:00 Babysitting Chloe
3:00 Homework
4:00 Homework
5:00 Playing the Laptop & Eating Dinner
6:00 Cleaning the Table
7:00 Reading Pour Your Heart Into It
8:00 Watching Bones
9:00 Reading Beowulf
9:40 Bedtime!

The Boy Within Me

I am far from the girly girl, who needs to plan their outfit out for the week, needs match nail polish to their shirt, it's just not me. I'm usually one of the guys. I'll be the one playing with the guys playing football, and I'm good at it, or I'll be the one who will complain when dad takes my brother, but not me hunting or to the gun range. I'm also the one who will be in the car and see a Corvette and yell "CORVETTE MY BABY!", that's only a few things that I'll do that most teenager girls (none of my friends) don't do.

Me

1. Talking about Cars

2. Playing with Fire (In a Safe way)

3. Hunting and Competitve Shooting

4. I'll watch Football and Hockey

5. I carry a pocket knief

Most Girls

1. Talking about the new hot boy in the school

2. Won't play with fire, let alone be with it

3. Shopping, and Why would you kill an innocent animal and eat it!

4. Ballet and Horseback Riding

5. Knives are bad

So as you can see I am on of the guys, but when I don't want to be with the guys, I can just go hang with my main friends. The four of us are all one of the guys.

Luv Ya,

C =]

A Week in a Homeschooler's Life-Day Five

Day Five
6:30 Wake up, get ready, start homework
7:00 Reading Pour Your Heart Into It
8:00 Homework-Drawing
9:00 Homework-History WWII
10:00 Homework-Math
11:00 Reading Pour Your Heart Into It
12:00 Playing with Bro-Legos!!
1:00 Playing with Bro-Legos!!
2:00 Eating Lunch
3:00 Writing my Story
4:00 Writing my story (I’m writing a Novel)
5:00 Working on my Girl Scout Gold Award
6:00 Watching a WWII Movie
7:00 Playing the Computer
8:00 Eating Dinner
8:40 Bed Time!

A Week in a Homeschooler's Life-Day Four

Day Four
6:30 Wake up, Get ready, Take shower (a nice hot one when it’s this early in the morning)
7:00 Waiting for the rest of the family to wake up/Watching T.V.
8:00 Watching T.V. Mom’s up
9:00 Mom doing my hair
10:00 Leaving for church
11:00 Church!
12:00 Coffee hour at Church
1:00 Went Over to Megan’s house :)
2:00 Megan’s House
3:00 Megan’s House
4:00 Megan’s House
5:00 Megan’s House
6:00 Dinner
7:00 On Laptop. . . . Edited the blog . . .Do you like it?
8:00 Watching T.V.
9:00 Reading/Going to bed


Sorry about to no pictures :( I'll promise tomorrow they'll be some for today :-p

A Week in a Homeschooler's Life-Day Three

Day Three
7:00 Wake up, get ready
8:00 Started Breakfast with dad
9:00 looking for a hike
10:00 Packing for the hike
11:00 Car Ride to the Hike
12:00 Hiking/Got back from the hike
1:00 In the car trying to find another state park/lunch
2:00 stopped at Brookfield Orchards
3:00 Got home
4:00 Watching a Movie OnDemand (InkHeart)
5:00 Playing on the laptop/posting a blog
6:00 making Hot Apple Cider
7:00 Washing Dishes
8:00 Playing the Computer
9:20 Bed Time!!

A Week In a Homeschooler's Life-Day Two

Day Two
7:00 Wake up! Get ready, eat breakfast
8:00 Homework aka Language Arts Self Test (we use Alpha Omega for our homeschooling curriculum)
9:00 History homework (WWII)
10:00 1.5 Mile Run with mom!!! We dropped 10 minutes!!!

me:

Bro:
11:00 Posting a Post on the Blog
12:00 Looking for a Claw foot for my Table
1:00 Help mom with Lunch
2:00 Reading!!
3:00 Sanded My Corner Table. . .Ughhhhh
4:00 Playing on the Computer :-p
5:00 Chilling Watching T.V.
6:00 Helping mom with dinner, which we had to postpone, because dad was running later
7:00 Setting the Table for dinner. . . Real exciting I know :-p
8:00 Chilling in my parent’s bed room watching some T.V.
9:40 Bed Time!!!!!!

Sorry today isn’t one of the more exciting days :-p

Please bare in mind that this is posted the day after it happens. . . :)

A Week In a Homeschooler's Life-Day One

Day One
7:30am Wake Up, Get ready, Shower, Breakfast


8:00 Discussing Supply &Demand-Economics
9:00 Science

me:

bro:
10:00 Hanging Clothes on the Clothes Line Downstairs (We don’t have a Dryer yet in the new house)
11:00 straightening my Room up for the Foster Care Meeting/Inspection
12:00pm Putting Lunch in the Oven
1:00 Posting & Updating the Blog :-p
2:00 Listening to Music & Reading Modern Bride
3:00 Foster Care Inspection starts
4:00 Packing the Truck Up
5:00 Making a Merit Badge Counselor List for Dad
6:00 Stop at Dunkin’ Donuts in Cromwell
7:00 Talking to Friends in Durham
8:00 Talking about my Girl Scout Gold Award
9:00 Dinner at McDonald’s
10:00 Sleeping in the Truck
10:40 Sleeping at Home!

I fixed it!

Teenager Thursdays

I’m going to start a weekly thing, and this weekly thing will be called Teenager Thursdays. It will happen every Thursday and it will involve something a teenager will like, and since I’m a teenager, It’ll be easy. For today I figured I will decode the teenager language for all parents to read, especially my mom, because she needs to know what she’s typing to my friends :-p
OMG: Oh My God/Gosh!
WTF: What The Fuck!?
JK: Just Kidding
JC: Just Chilling
K: Okay
OMFG: Oh My Fucking God/Gosh!
BRB: Be Right Back
BBL: Be Back Later
BBML: Be Back Much Later
G2G: Got to Go
2: To
Pwned: Owned (like a burn)
Pwnage: Ownage (like a Pwn but better)
Liek: Like
NW: No Way
BF: Boy Friend
GF: Girl Friend
FB: Facebook
MYS: Myspace
Pic: Picture
Rly: Really
RP: Role Play
OOC: Out Of Character
Charrie: Character
S/N: Screen name
Plz/pls: Please
w/:With
2gether: Together
HW: Homework
O: Oh
WEML: Whatever Major Loser
W/E: Whatever
NM: Nothing Much
Wu/what’s^: What’s Up?
Lol: Laughing Out Loud


By: C :)

A Week in a Homeschooler's Life

I had an idea today! That I will photograph my weekly life, what I do as a homeschooler, I’ll take pictures throughout the next week starting tomorrow and ending on the September 17th. After each day I will write and post pictures of what happened throughout the day. I hope this explains what I do as a homeschooler. I hope you enjoy reading the blog, and what my life consists of :)

By: <3 c

Time to Talk with your Teenager

In our many, many drives back and forth to DD rehearsals, we have had many conversations. Lately, however, we have been listening to a book on tape. I had recommended that she should read The Shack, but given the tons of books that she reads, she has not had time, so the other day she took it out on tape. So each night, we have been listening eagerly. And then we started talking again, she has so much to stay that we are stuck in The Shack unable to move forward because we’ve been chatting so much. But I sure will never complain about her talking too much (ok, maybe sometimes – but I think you mom’s know what I mean).

Last night’s conversation was one that every parent would love to hear from the child, but I was lucky enough to get it. She began talking about how a friend of hers confided in her that she hated her mother. She let me know that she had counseled the girl to be careful about the words she used and that she should really think about why she thinks that. The girl told her how much cooler everyone else’s mom is. DD responded, “I’ve thought about this a lot, and, you know how your parents sometimes tell you how perfect some other child is or that you should be more like so and so? Well it’s the same thing. They don’t see those children when they are misbehaving and we don’t see those other parents when they are having mental breakdowns. Sometimes we don’t see how cool our own parent’s are. . .” She went on and on but I think I stopped listening. She understood. I think I was in my 20’s when I got this. . . Maybe we will find our way through these teenage years yet.

BTW, I think this conversation had some implication that I may have a few cool genes. It may take us a lot longer to finish The Shack than I expected, but I’m ok with that.

by,
MOM

101st Post!

Ok, so this post needs some type of story with it because it is out 101st post, I never thought that my mom and I would make it this far to the 101st post, but at the same time, I felt that this should have been reached a long long time ago, but with moving, and me just totally forgetting about you guys (sorry), I guess it took us this long to get here. Sorry, it was supposed to be the 100th post, but I forgot, and I posted something else, my bad. But YAY! We made it to 100!\

by C

CORI This, CORI That

Paperwork, I know feel bad for adults that need to fill a lot of paperwork out! My parent just filed to become Foster Parents, which I think is cool, and nice. Of Course they need to do a Criminal Background Check on every except for my brother, he’s under the age. So my parents and I need to file out CORI’s, but wait it gets even better! We also need to fill out Connecticut Criminal History Record Request Form, because we moved 3 months ago, and we haven’t had time for a record (not that I had one in CT anyways) in the new area, so now I need to fill out another form kind of like a CORI, but the CT way, but I figured it’s fine, we’re helping people out right fostering is a great way to help out, but now I’m also volunteering at a Shelter later in the month, and what do they need? A CORI! So there is one more I need to do, I’ve been thinking about it, I’m not an adult, but for being a young adult there is a lot more paperwork, then just when I was a kid! Now it’s like wow, what do adults need to do? Kids/Teenagers/Young Adults, should be aware, of what we’re going to get ourselves into in 10 (or more) years, because trust me, I’ve never thought about the paperwork involved.
P.S. This is our 100th post :-p

Let's Go Hiking!

Ok, out of my family, I am not the hiking type. I’m the one that will go, but let’s go at a normal walking pace and get it over with! I don’t care for hiking, I’m not saying that I don’t like the outdoors, because I do, I just don’t like hiking really, I would rather spend my time Fashion Designing, or looking online at Coach bags, things that I would like to do. The only issue is that my family loves hiking, so it’s like I was put into the wrong family, will I go and take a walk on the road, sure, will I walk around the block, why not!, but will I hike? Not if I can help it. I don’t like the idea of hiking, just for the fun of it, and this week with Uncle R., we’ll go hiking, but with Uncle R., my brother, and my mom well stop at everything, it’s ok, but I don’t like it. My Uncle and brother both like animals, so they’ll go out looking for a salamander, frog, or snake, and they like it, but I would rather just say “Oh cool, let’s go.”. . .I guess I’ll have to live for a couple more hikes, even if I don’t like it.

Found a Church?

Well I think the church hunt is done, which is funny at the same time. Last Sunday mom and I went to the Church on the Hill, and the conversation went.

Mom: “C, I think we’ll bring M, B, and R here on Sunday, don’t you think?”
Me: “Ok, so this is our church?”
Mom: “No. Look at my calendar and check what Sunday is good for Coffee Hour.”
Me: “MOM! You just said this wasn’t our church, but yet you’re signing up for Coffee hour! That means this is our church.”
Mom: “Well ya I guess you’re right.”
Me: “But we still need to go to the church with the huge Organ. I want to take a picture of it, to send to J.”
Mom: “Ok”

See, it’s funny, mom doesn’t look at the Church on the Hill as our church, but yet she’s able to sign us up for Coffee Hour, sign her and I up for a Blood Drive, offer to join the choir there, I don’t really like this church, but I can live with it for the next 4 years.

By <3 C

Having Family Come Out?

My Aunt, Uncle, and my Cousin, are coming out to visit us for the last week in July. This is my mom’s Birth Half-Sister, I didn’t know if you guys know, but my mom was adopted. She has seen her mom, her half brother and sister, and so have my brother and I. They currently live out in Oregon. Let’s just say my Aunt M. likes to plan ahead . . . A Lot! We got an email from her, and it was funny, she is trying to shove a whole year into 7 days, we love her dearly, but to read one of her emails for planning is just funny. I remember the last time she came out she was just pregnant with my cousin R., she said that they will come out in 10 years, when R. is big enough to ride an airplane, well let’s just say, it hasn’t been 10 years yet, but they made it out all right. My mom and dad picked them up Saturday night, and well, now we are just going to go with the flow, and see what we are doing for the week.

I recommend, if you have family that you haven't seen in a while, plan a visit, or invite them over, mom, tired of getting the question "How is the house?" decided to throw a family picnic while Aunt M, Uncle B, and R are out, so that is what we're going to do today.

<3 Caelyn

Evolution of the Purse

As most of you know, I’m a teenage girl, and what is the number one accessory for us? (Hint: It’s not Make-up or jewelry) The Purse! A couple months ago, my mom and I were in the Gift Shop at Old Sturbridge Village (OSV), and there was this one purse I wanted, because my other one was on its dyeing leg. This purse was big enough and was a good in-between for mom and me, I wanted to Vera Bradley; mom wanted me to buy a purse that was cheap, so this purse at $24.99 plus the volunteer discount, was great. It was a great size for me, and it wasn’t a Vera Bradley, but it almost was.



In June when we actually “became” volunteers for OSV, I said, ok I want my purse, mom on the other hand told me to wait until after Kentucky (I went to Kentucky with my church, that’s another blog :-p). I said ok, but I wasn’t happy about it. I went to zipper my purse up a couple days later and the zipper broke! This was the largest purse that I owned! Now I really wanted the purse at OSV. I dealt with the purse in Kentucky (even thou it wasn’t that fun), but I lived.

The only issue, is that I went from my first purse, my friend gave me to this purse, so now I was living in a small XOXO purse.

I wouldn’t mind using that purse, but I have my second life in my purse I’ll give you a list of just a few items that always stay in there.

1. Pocket Calendar
2. Lip Gloss
3. Eyeliner
4. Mascara
5. Chap Stick
6. Batteries (for my new digital camera)
7. Toothbrush
8. Floss
9. Wax (for my braces)
10. Toothpaste
11. Sun Glasses
12. Wallet
13. Dunkin Donuts Sugar Packets (I only have these because I order Iced Coffee and well they don’t put enough sugar in it!)

See, what I’m talking about, the small purse couldn’t handle all of that, plus more! So how could I fit everything in there, and still have room for a digital camera? That’s right, I don’t, so more the reason for a new purse. The only reason my mom didn’t want me to buy the purse in June, was because we had no way to show that we were volunteers, but in July we had a plan, we would walk in with our costumes on buy it, so we could get the discount, and then change out of our costumes. Come July (aka yesterday), I bought my purse, now I just need to put my stuff in it, and I’ll be happy.

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