Good Week So Far

I've been getting enough sleep, not enough homework, and it feels so weird (in a good way). I'm usually studying for something in between classes or during an unimportant lecture, but today, I had literally nothing to do. It felt awkward just sitting in Mr. Nunoo's class doing nothing. I'm so glad I dropped out of Calculus. I don't have to worry about getting a D on my report card. Speaking of report card, I can't wait to get mine in the mail. My lowest grade is going to be a 96, in AP Biology 2. This is so exciting! I am anticipating January so I can go to the front office and check my new rank. If I go back to #3, or even higher to #2, I will be the happiest student in the world. The underclassmen and I are getting closer, too. A lot of them wave to me so joyfully. It's cute. And then we have Coach Hinojosa, my Health teacher from 9th grade. He's so happy every time he sees me. He even tells me to pop my collar and asks girls to tell me, "Hey, you look good!" Haha, I love him. It makes me feel good that at least one person in this school enjoys my presence.

I really need to talk to Mr. Rodriguez about a lot of stuff. I'm pretty sure he's going to make the auditions for the band split a major grade. I will audition on whatever instrument he wants me to. BUT, I really want to tell him that I want to be in the concert band. I don't want to be in symphonic band and deal with after school sectionals or extra practice or starting earlier than usual. If it's my last year in band, I want to spend it with the underclassmen, who at the moment, are the only people who are bringing me higher. I want to be able to help the flutes and low brass players. If I'm in symphonic band, everyone's already going to be so good at playing their instrument. No one's going to need help. If I'm in the top group, it's going to be like a rigorous course. Additionally, I REALLY want to play flute for ONCE in my life DURING band. All those years playing at home for fun will not go to waste. Even though Mr. Rodriguez took away the flute I played on, Calvin did tell me at one point that I could borrow his older brother's. He never followed up with that, and I'm afraid to ask him, but hopefully, if things work out, I'll be playing the flute with all the kiddos in concert band :]

- shan

First Invititational UIL Meet

Around 20 people from Stafford went. I'm happy Calvin and Corrine did, because that's who I hung out with most of the time. When we got to Westfield, my allergies got worse. I literally had to go to the bathroom to blow my nose at least twenty times. The skin on my nose started to really get red and peel. When it was time for me and Calvin to go test, I knew exactly where to go because I went to Westfield last year and made 6th place. That was when I DIDN'T have my spelling words. This year, since I DID have them, it'd be really embarrassing if I didn't place higher. Before the test started,  the guy passing out index cards dropped them right by me and forgot to hand me one. The cutie sitting next to me noticed, totally raised up both hands and told the guy, "UM, YOU FORGOT TO GIVE HIM ONE!" I felt loved xD As soon as I began, my mind went somewhere else. I couldn't answer ANY of the questions on the second page. I studied my butt off; I didn't get why it was so hard. Halfway through, I just wanted to get up and leave. When it was over, I was kind of upset. We got the results about two hours later, and to my pleasant surprise, Calvin placed 4th. I got so scared, because I knew Calvin spelled a lot of the words correctly that I had missed. I thought he was going to do better than me. Then, when they announced, "In 2nd place... from Stafford High School," Mrs. Gridley and Amy got up and started screaming. It felt so good. Calvin, Christian, and I earned one more medal for 1st place team :] I decided to give Calvin the team medal. I'm so glad I'm not greedy. I got home, took some Zyrtec, showered, and went straight to sleep.

Yesterday was the last varsity football game of the season, and if I'm to quit band, it was my last varsity football game EVER. I'm no longer going to play my French horn. I'm no longer going to be marching. I wish I'd be able to conduct the band next year, but I don't think that's going to happen either. I don't mean to sound rude, but the "emotional" and "motivational" speech that Mr. Rodriguez gave after the game was over was, in my opinion, annoying. I thought it was so lame, and I just wanted him to stop talking. My feet and ears could not take it. I was aching everywhere and just wanted to go home. I don't get why the underclassmen cried, to be honest. Every one was going to see each other the next day, and they'll get to march next year too. It was my potential last game too, but I didn't cry. I hate Mr. Rodriguez for taking away the flute I played on. My parents have turned my passion into dread. I don't care about band anymore, and I just want to be in the 2nd group next semester.

- shan

Mis Pensamientos

Parece que más que una persona lee mi Xanga. Por eso, deseo escribir en español. Limitará comprensión. Anoche fue el partido de Stafford contra Needville. Fue tan divertido en el autobús. Jasmine y yo nos sentamos detrás de Ryan. Nos habló todo el tiempo. Contamos chistes y nos reímos. Cuando llegamos, estaba entusiasmado. Tengo muchas amigas en Needville de Region Banda, como Isabel. La vi con Señora Schmidt. Estaba tan alegre. 6 personas me preguntaron si quería dejar la banda. Los dije, "No sé," porque es la verdad. Mis padres me quieren salir. Creen que estoy tan cansado después de los ensayos y partidos. Piensan que debo concentrar en otras materias. Estoy de acuerdo, pero aún quiero estar con mis compadres. Manejando, comiendo, tocando juntos. Si soy Drum Major en el año que viene,  me encantaría dirigir la banda. Si me quedo, puedo tocar la flauta finalmente. Puedo recibir una beca. Estoy confundido :| Pero todavía, me divertí mucho en mi potencialmente partido final.

Por fin, me salí de mi clase de cálculo. Tuve que quedarme después de escuela. Estoy tan contento que no tengo que hacer tarea ni tomar exámenes. Ahora, tengo solamente seis clases. Chris está hablandome. Las cosas entre nosotros se arreglaron. Y los miembros de la banda en noveno grado están empezando a hablarme. Les gustan mi fiambrera de Pokémon. Jaja. Los adoro tanto. No me quiero abandonarlos ): Esta noche, voy a ir trick-or-treating con Karen. Voy a ser una pirata xD Pues, debo hacer mi tarea antes de saliendo. Espero que la termino.

- shan

YIP Volunteer Event

I got about 7 hours of sleep after I woke up this morning, which is normally how much I get on a school night. But I was SO tired from last night's football game. Color guard members got to play their instruments in the stands, and my legs were so sore from squatting down to Maegan's height so she could read the music off the flip folder we were sharing. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I was given a sequined sash, the ones only Drum Majors wear. I was prepared to wear the bland one that everyone else wears. Mr. Rodriguez would come up with some excuse saying I'm "Assitant Drum Major" and need to look uniform with the rest of the marchers. But he didn't. I was worried it would look bad since it was so big on me, but everything turned out fine. Ypolito asked me, "Why do you get a special sash?" And I said, "Because I'm drum major." He followed up with, "No you're not! You don't conduct like Chris and Marcos!" I was so over it. I had to explain to this slow kid that there are different types of drum majors. I work on the field. Chris and Marcos work on keeping the band on tempo. That is all. Whatever. I'm quitting band next year, so I won't have to explain myself to anyone anymore.

For YIP this morning, I was really excited. On the bus, though, I didn't see Alejandra anywhere in sight. And I got worried because she told me that she would go. Then, I looked out the window and let out a sigh of relief. She was just a bit late. I asked her if she wanted to sit with me in Spanish, and she understood and came back :] We talked about a lot of things, listened to some Spanish songs on my mp3 and then on her phone. At the volunteer event, we were divided into team groups and numbers. I was with Team #1 - RED. I was so thankful to have Calvin with me. The rest of my group was Serena, Matanel, and Minh. At first, we were assigned to set up a PS2 and the Guitar Hero game. I felt so dumb because I'm not familiar with video games and was just standing there. The other stations were a lot of fun. I made beaded bracelets for Jasmine and my mother. I played Connect Four with Calvin, only to get disrupted and be told to move to another station -_- At the book trivia station, I randomly got up from my seat, and the ENTIRE table collapsed. All eyes glared at me. I didn't even touch the damn table. Matanel was the one who was pushing it back, but since I was standing up, it made it seem like I knocked it over or something. Ugh, whatever. I'm just happy I got 5 hours of community service in.

UIL Marching Contest

The bus ride to El Campo was fun. Jasmine and I listened to music in Spanish, and she helped translate all the words I couldn't make out. We took pictures, talked to Ryan, and just chatted. When we arrived, I saw the bus from Needville was right next to us. Isabel came up to my window, and I screamed out of joy. It was so good to see her again. We caught up, and later, I even saw Emily, the French horn player. When we were warming up, I played with all my might. All of my valves were oiled, so I didn't have to worry about anything getting stuck. The band's sounds were amazing <3 The field was turf. It was really soft, and the weather was so sunny. I loved the heat. After that performance, I can definitely say I marched my best and played with a lot of heart. Mr. Keen wanted all of us to get off the bus after we loaded. Mr. Rodriguez was coming back with the scores. "As you can see, I don't have a trophy with me..." Everyone sighed. We awed. I kind of saw it coming. Then, Mr. Rodriguez continues, "BECAUSE IT'S BEHIND THE BUS! WE EARNED STRAIGHT 1s!" At that moment, everyone started screaming, clapping, and jumping up and down. Even I went a little crazy. 1-1-1 is the highest score you can possibly get. I hugged Jocelyn and Loyda and was so proud of everyone. We got back on the bus, rested, and arrived back at school around 5:30.

I was supposed to go to the movies with Chris, Rosylyn, Kim, etc. But I didn't want to ask them for a ride because I thought they would mind. Evelyn said she could give me a ride to the movies, so that was a sigh of relief. To my chagrin, Evelyn meant that she was going home first and could pick me up from my house. I hadn't even called my mother yet. There was no point in me going anymore. It would be too late. I didn't want Mr. Rodriguez to wait for my mom to come, so I just walked to the Stafford Pool by myself, and waited there for about half an hour. I silently got in the car, went home, and sulked. I really wanted to watch Paranormal Activity with my friends :[ To make matters worse, my family was invited to a dinner party. My dad was out of town, my sister already had plans, and I didn't want my mom to go alone, so I obligingly went with her. It wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. My dad's side of the family isn't terrible now that I think about it. I got home around 11. Tomorrow, I have to do nothing but study for Biology 2 and work on my powerpoint. Isaiah let me borrow his Biology 1 book so I could get more information. Hopefully, I get to go to the Galleria tomorrow or go for a round with my mom. It's been a while since I've driven.

- shan