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Courtesy of blogger.com

This winter I got my first job, I was asked during my interview "What is your biggest weakness?" It took me a while to decide what it was, I decided it was that I always
wanted to be in control or that I always needed something to do. Towards the end of the season, I asked my self this question again. I decided I changed to allowing others to be a leader, and become a follower. Also I learned that down time during a job isn't always a bad thing. I always felt I needed to be doing something to feel productive.

Just in case you have not realized yet, this is a school based project. I have one final blog post, due for my assignment, I have to write how I and this blog has changed.

I decided I would first talk about how I have changed this year. I asked my friends/myself how I have changed, other than growing taller. They all agreed that I have learned to relax, also able to take jokes a little better. I then continued to ask my family, both my parents said that I became even more responsible than before. Everyone refers to me as the mom of my friend group, because I am always the one that makes sure everyone has money, sunscreen, and everything like that. So I have mainly changed, through responsibility, humor, and everything else.

This blog has changed in multiple ways. It started with music and movie reviews, then photography tips and tricks. Then it finally turned into a blog generally about my life, and a whole bunch of rants. I also started writing with around 300 word posts, now they are about 500-600. But mainly this blog has showed me how much I miss and enjoy writing. This makes me want to write a book or short story.

I hope you enjoyed this post, I plan to continue writing over the summer and the next few years. I hope you enjoyed this crazy ride, through my 9th grade year.

The Most Magical Place On Earth Other Than Hogwarts

Universal Globe, Dragon over Gringotts,
Butterbeer, The Resort

Florida, god's waiting room. Which is also home to the two of the best places on earth! Disney World & Universal Studios. Over our spring break, I flew down to Orlando with my family. Of course I dragged them to Harry Potter world, which is where I spent most of my days. Harry Potter is one of my favorite book and movies series. It was my entire childhood/teenage years in one place. I was in heaven. The detail was unbelievable, how they designed the buildings to be almost exact, the rides, the lines, it was all so amazing, there are barely any words to describe it. Also the scenery was unbelievable, you would think you were transported into the world you were walking through. The lines were half of the fun, because of how accurately decorated they were!

Courtesy of Universal Orlando

The hotel we stayed at was called the Cabana Bay Resort, which was owned by Universal. This hotel was unlike any others I have ever stayed at before because, it was a 50s themed hotel. Which is my favorite era. Everyone worked there dressed how they would in the 50s, also the hotel was decorated retro, they had the lights, wallpaper, and everything! They also had a shuttle that would take you to the park from the hotel, and back. On the outside of the bus it was painted like a old station wagon, but in a bus form, while the inside was just like a normal bus.

We started our day by eating breakfast in the Hog's Head Pub, which is inside Universals Islands Of Adventure. Then once we left, we were greeted by a large barrel of Butterbeer. Which tastes like a strong cream soda, with whipped cream on top. They offer a frozen (Slushy) or the actual smooth drink. The best by far was the frozen one, since it was 85-90 degrees. We stayed inside the Harry Potter park for about an hour or so. Then moved onto the main park, which you take the Hogwarts Express to. Inside the main park they have Diagon Alley, which is also placed in Harry Potter.

Now here are my top two favorite rides!

Train, Hogwarts Castle, Bar Soap, Line For Train

My all time favorite ride was Harry Potter and The Escape From Gringotts. A 4D steel roller coaster, it starts with you in the Gringotts Bank walking through the entire bank. You then climb into a 'minecart' and it shoots you off. Once inside the ride you are surrounded by TV screen, but keep in mind you cannot see these TVs it feels like you are immersed into this world. Then you are greeted by Voldemort and Beatrix who then does a spell and the track slowly angles down, your cart is locked into place. Once angled almost straight down, you have a few seconds, of silence. Then BOOM your dropped about 25 feet, while on the track. You then follow Ron Weasly's brother through the bank to try and escape. At some points you feel the hot breath of a dragon, and water being splashed on you.

My second favorite ride, is the 4D Minion Mayhem (I'm really into 4D rides) this one is just like the mobile game Minion Rush. But in these carts, that are stationary but can move in almost any direction. This being one of my other favorite movies again, it was my childhood. It lasted only about a minute or so, but it is amazing how much they can fit in within these few minutes.

I would strongly suggest that if you enjoy Harry Potter you try and go sometime soon!! We only got to spend a day in the park, due to also having to visit family friends in Northern Florida. We had to cram a lot of rides into 10 hours, due to the waits being about 30-45 minutes long. It was also graduate night so the park closed two hours early at 6:30. (More pictures can be found here)

Apple Watch

The Display Outside The Store

While on YouTube, I started watching how to make Homemade Ice Cream Fast. I was watching my younger cousins and needed an activity. I then found a I Wore The $17,000 Gold Apple Watch I then thought why not, set up a free appointment to try it out. My mom then agreed it would be cool to see it, and without question drove me down to our nearest apple store. First of all it was so cool!! Now here is a basic review of the Apple Watch ---- 42 mm Sport blue band. I sadly forgot to get a picture of me with the watch. I took these next pictures of the multiple displays.

The Apple Watch offers different 'models' of the watch, Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch, and the Apple Watch Edition. All ranging in different prices depending on the size, band, etc.

The Apple Watch Sport Display 42mm

This watch is pretty damn cool. But expensive. The capabilities of it are amazing, it has the ability to control music, texts, phone calls, and the camera on the iPhone. First, lets begin with the calling and text messaging. The calling function is very cool, but it has its downsides, being speaker phone. The microphone is amazing, you can hold the watch at your side and it can still pick up your voice. The texting is also unbelievable, because it shows your texts on the watch face, then you can reply by 1. Choosing from a set list of options or creating your own with the Apple Watch App, 2. Emojis 3D ones (Only for Watch) then the regular ones on the iPhone, and 3. Voice texting.

This watch can tell you the weather, can track your workout and activity, and also tell you your calendar. One of the coolest things I think is that if you launch the camera app on your phone, you can use the watch to take the picture if you have the camera set up from a far away distance, and cannot reach the capture.

This watch really is just a smartphone, except you need a smartphone. It doesn't seem to change anything, except make it easier to see texts, etc. All in all it was very cool to test out the Apple Watch, it was seeing the future on your wrist. As many other people explained it felt like they were Dick Tracy or characters from Star Trek.

Budapest

First of all I want to apologize for the lack of the music reviews. I had many other things to talk about. So sorry 'bout that... Since I didn't write any reviews, I decided to review three songs! *Drumroll please* Cheerleader by Omi, Budapest & Cassy O', by George Ezra. According to my iTunes I have played each song about 35-45ish times. Which I mean either they have an addictive beat, or have some form of deeper meaning. But these have a cool beat, while one or two deeper meanings/metaphors.

George Ezra Album Cover - Courtesy of iTunes

Cheerleader is one of those songs you jam out to late at night, con tus amigos! It has that cool sound that all the best songs need. This song talks about how the main character has someone always cheering him on, and always on his side no matter what. "When I need motivation, my one solution is my queen, 'cause she' stay strong... She is always in my corner, right there when I want her." This song was popular about four months ago, went away now it is back number 63 on the Billboard Top 100, going up 32 places from 95. So from that you can assume it will keep increasing over the next few weeks. Which again means it has to be good!

One of the first few times I ever heard the song Budapest, it was on Saturday Night Live, a little background of George for you, he is 21 but looks 15, he is British which you can tell in his songs. So back to the performance on SNL his singing voice does not match how he looks. He has a deep voice but again looks 15. After listening to the whole album Wanted on Voyage, these are by far my two favorite songs (Cassy O' & Budapest). Cassy O' from the lyrics, it seems as though the main character doesn't want someone to leave, or get out of their life. Budapest is also the same way, wanted to start anew.

I suggest you look into the lyrics of these songs, and create your own opinions. These are the best songs of today (I think). So here are the links to check them out! Cheerleader , Budapest, Cassy O'

Finals Pt. 2 1/2

Welcome back tooooooo another finals rant. I always say to myself before finals that I will start studying a good week before. Now here I am two days before my last final. I also have not studied one bit. I procrastinate, a lot. I have an attention span of a squirrel, I study for five minutes. Then continue to go on my phone for 15 minutes, then just stare into blank space for 10 minutes. I just can't stay focused when it is not something I'm interested in. (I apologize for any teachers about to read)

One question I always ask is, "Why the hell do teachers all plan tests on the same day. (Normally a Thursday or Friday) Always the end of the week, why not do it at the beginning of the week, and chill in class for the rest of the week watching movies, or DOING NOTHING. But no, we have to do intense [home]work all week, acting if there are no finals. Haha no, stop this, not funny, you teachers know we have finals why must you give us so much homework when we obviously need to study.

Courtesy of Tumblr

Did you know that coral can die if it gets too stressed? "Well, if I was a coral I would be dead." But I'm not, just a stressed teenager. I mean what can they legitly get stressed about, they don't have tests, homework, assignments, etc...

Finals Pt. 2

Courtesy of Bits Blog

Here we are once again, the dreaded finals week. Our school consists of a block schedule, 4 classes one day 4 the next. I had tests in each of my classes today, Math, Spanish, Geography, and English. One quiz three unit tests. That was hell. But what made it worse was that I didn't get home from my track meet until 9-9:30. But I had 4 pages of math, study spanish words, geography homework 2 pages, and english reading and writing this post. (Surprise this is a grade, but I like this assignment :D) I was up until 12:30-1 am doing this. I need 8+ hours. I got a total of 5. But thankfully I was able to get some form of caffeine in me. (triple shot espresso caramel macchiato) That helped to keep me awake all day, while taking the tests. Even though I did get jittery it was worth it so I could stay awake. Normally coffee makes people not focus or jump from thing to thing in their head. But oddly enough it helps me to focus and stay concentrated. If I don't have coffee, no one is happy.

Before finals always try to get as much sleep as possible, it is easier to wake up early then study to retain the information other than staying up late and not truly understanding the subject. Always study. But if you do end up not feeling awake, try to drink coffee, or eat energy chews. But do not drink energy drinks. They are so bad for your body and health. Stick with coffee or chews.

Back to the main point, finals. They suck. No arguing they suck. If you like finals you're psyco. I hate the uncertainty to finals, as to what to study for. I would prefer a one two three list of the basic things to study. VS trying to study a whole book or 6 page packet. I want to know exactly what to study not studying useless portions that would not be on the test. Once again may the Coffee gods be with you.

The Season is Near

High school sports, they can be fun or a lot of work. In a few weeks the track & field season is beginning. We had a very interesting meeting, and of course talked about fees, uniforms, what to bring etc. They had a junior/senior come up and talk to the group. To quote her she said "The first week is hell." My thinking is that they were trying to weed out the weaker links. Which did happen. We went from 150+ kids to around 80-100. Which is quite nice.

I run hurdles. In this season there is only about 4-8 of us who actually want to run hurdles. (Because everyone else is terrified of them) It is really nice having a small group, which means that more coach to player time. Yes it sounds selfish but in a sense not really. If you have one on one time with your coach that leads to you improving. Then helping to push the team higher up in the ranks. This in the end helping the image/reputation of the whole team.

Courtesy of  Inc.

The third day of the first week was complete hell. What we had to do was on the corners of the track jog then on the straights sprint/jog 4 times. (About 100m, which the total is 400m) I know what you're thinking is that it can't be that bad. For normal yes, but for a person who can only run sprints it sucks.

400 m Track courtesy of Sports & Recreation

Our first meet is in about a week. Which really sucks since we have not had much 'training' time vs just conditioning. Our outdoor track is covered in a good layer of snow, which really sucks. So we get to run on our indoor track, which does not have any form of AC it feels like. It gets humid and hot, if you don't drink about a 32oz bottle there is something wrong with you.

While doing conditioning we work with our core at the end of the day. Sometimes ending with a planking competition. Which is fun.. I guess. I made it to about two minutes fifteen, then couldn't hold much longer. The last two happened to be gymnasts, which made it to about 4-5 minutes. Which I find kind of unbelievable. Not gonna lie, I was sore for a while after the first week.

Yet I am still very excited about the season. You get to connect with people in different grades with the same interests as you. 

Parks and Recreation

I recently finished the TV show Parks and Recreation. It is one of those shows that is able to get you to feel every emotion. Warning now, there are going to be spoilers.

By the way the theme song is very catchy!

Parks and Recreation  Courtesy of Imbd

This show took about 3-4 episodes to really get in to. But after that I watched about 4-6 episodes a day. For 5 episodes it is about 1 hour and about 45 minutes. So not that much time, in that respect. I was able to finish this series in a few weeks. It is the best show in the entire world and you need to watch it. I watched it so fast that I was able to catch up to the final season that was still premiering on TV.

Now here is a top three of my favorite episodes, Pilot, Harvest Festival, and Ann & Chris.

The first one being the pilot, it introduced characters that you will fall in love with. You learn that theyy work at the Pawnee, Indiana Parks and Recreation department. It starts with Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt) falling into a large pit in their backyard. Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones) goes to an open forum hosted by the P&R branch. There she meets Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler). and Leslie promises to fulfil her wish to fill in the pit. When Ann & Leslie visit the pit, Ann accidentally falls in. Which turned into a multiple year process. You continue to meet Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari), April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza), and Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman).

Leslie after she falls in the pit - courtesy of Tumblr

Next is the Harvest Festival, Season 3 Episode 7. Leslie wants to recreate the past Harvest Festival. But the Wamapoke tribe leader, requests the festival be moved because it is on Wamapoke land. The leader also says that he cursed the land, but like The Office, it is a 'documentary' like show, he says to the camera crew, "There are two things [he] know[s] about white people: they love Rachael Ray, and are terrified of curses. "Leslie surprises everyone with Li'l Sebastian, a miniature horse, everyone loves except for Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott), he doesn't understand the fad. Tom accidentally release Li'l Sebastian from his pen, and blames the curse and Jerry Gergich (Jim O'Heir). On the Ferris Wheel Andy admits he loves April. Jerry accepts Tom's apology. Then afterwards they find Li'l Sebastian inside the corn maze.

Li'l Sebastian Courtesy of Pinterest.com

This next episode is in Season 6, Episode 13. This episode really pulls at the heart strings. By far one of the saddest episodes. With this being the last night in Pawnee for Ann and Chris (Rob Lowe), Leslie throws them a going away party, a little over the top. But nothing is over the top for Ann. While the boys, Andy, Tom, and Ron are trying to find a going away gift for the two of them. Remember that promise Leslie made Ann in the first episode. It was fulfilled this time, Leslie and Ann together broke the first ground on the pit, soon to be playground. The next day, pregnant Ann and Chris say goodbye to everyone, then drive off into the sunset. "There has never been a sadness a breakfast food couldn't fix." - Ron Swanson. This is the episode that really tugged at the heartstrings, and not gonna lie made me tear up a bit.  

The final episode of Parks and Rec Courtesy Of IMBD

Sub Experinces

Y'know school can sometimes be entertaining. Whether a teacher says something crazy or a sub does something stupid.

Today in our spanish class, we had a substitute fall asleep... She was snoring like a freight train. She had no idea what was happening the whole class. She fell asleep like 8 times, throughout a 90 minute class. She was not even paying attention to anything, nor was she controlling the class. We did what ever we waned to. (I wrote this post during class)

So then I decided to ask two friends about their experiences! *More to come

Courtesy of TangiSchool

Francesca -  French class, 2nd period, waiting for the teacher to come to class. My class waiting 30 min for the teacher, to walk back. The whole class ended up leaving, since there was no teacher. They walked back to the room, and the teacher was there and said "Where were you guys?" and everyone responded with "Looking for you!" Everyone went back to their seats. Then she said "I am not sure what to do since she did not leave a Sub Plan." But we knew it was on canvas, but we didn't 'know' either. But we knew exactly what to do. Said that the teacher wanted to watch a movie. The entire class we watched a movie and were talking. The End.

Jeff - We had a substitute teacher who was missing part of her left ring finger. Because when she was younger was go-karting and accidentally stuck her finger in the fan of the kart, and it go cut off. But she had this wand with a star on the end, it was metal. When ever she hit it on a desk or wall, etc it would make a ding sound. Like a mini gong, and so if you weren't paying attention or off task she would come up behind you and bang it on your desk. Scaring you. End Story

Thank you so much Francesca, Jeff, for the awesome stories. You are the BOMB.com and apple sauce. Everyone should go see their blogs.

Oh Childhood

Oh childhood, what happened? We used to be such great friends, now responsibilitys have taken your place. What happened to our favorite tv shows, music, movies and books? Now all of our favorite shows are off the air, our books are becoming modernized.

All of our shows are going off the air. That So Raven, Suite Life of Zach & Cody, Lizzie McGuire, Kim Possible, Wizard of Waverly Place, CatDog, Rugrats, My Life As a Teenage Robot, and Wayside. In case you are too young to remember any of these shows there are links on the show names. Well this a short list of all the shows, that have disappeared off the air, along with my childhood.

2008-2010 were the best years for music. They were clean, a cool sound, good lyrics. Now it is all rap and dirty lyrics. On the radio in the early 2000s they never repeated the same song, now all I hear is Uptown Funk, every 15 minutes. That has officially ruined that song for me.

I watched so many movies as a kid. Now they are all gone, and you have to buy them on VHS and rarely on DVD. These movies include Smart House, Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, Halloweentown, HSM, and many other great movies that I strongly suggest you watch now.