Live in the Moment

I’m upset. You wanna know why I’m upset? Well as usual, I don’t really care if you want to know, because I am going to tell you anyway! So HA.

Anyway, I am upset because we only have 26 days, 17 hours, 32 minutes, and 44 seconds until school ends. UNTIL FRESHMEN YEAR ENDS. That means that we only have 1,124 days, 17 hours, 32 minutes, and 44 seconds until our high school years end. It may sound like a lot now, but before we know it we are going to be beginning senior year. Which if you really want to know is in 842 days, 22 hours, 34 minutes, and 11 seconds. And then we will wish we could add even more time onto our High School years. So yeah… That is why I am upset. Oh, and it is raining. 

Throwback to when I was living 1/7th of my life!

I remember one day when I was younger, I was telling my sister, Katy, how each year seems to go by faster than the previous one. At the time, I thought it was just my imagination, I mean that couldn’t have possibly been true. However, I guess the impossible is sometimes possible. I learned that day, that as you grow up, each year is actually shorter than previous one. Right now, I am fifteen years old. So this year is 1/15th of my lifetime. When I am in my senior year, I will be 18 years old. That is 1/18th of my life! 

So what does that tell us?

We need to cherish each day we have as we grow up because as we keep getting older, more and more days will seem to disappear. As much as we completely dread waking up in the morning at 6 am to go become educated at the dungeon, we will miss it someday. Yes, that’s right. Someday when you are thirty years old working in a cubicle on the fourth floor of some sky scraper in New York City, you might actually miss the crammed hallways of Treasure Mountain Junior High. I know I will. 

“Today is the oldest you’ve ever been, and the youngest you’ll ever be again.”

9th grade is the year where we begin to regret the decisions we made in the past because we can’t take the classes we want, or we can’t make the team we want. But it is also the year where we become stressed about our future because grades begin to count. As I look back on my last year at Treasure Mountain I realize that I am a victim of both living in the past and living in the future. When I really wish I had lived in the present and just appreciate each moment as it comes. 

P.E. AKA Pathetic Exercise

I am a straight A student. 

Or I guess I should say I WAS a straight A student.

I know what your thinking: It was probably Honors English that broke the streak. Mr. Parker is known for being a teacher who even makes the Einsteins work for a grade. 

I should probably tell you now that I have a 95% in Mr. Parkers class.  

SO, WHAT CLASS COULD I POSSIBLY HAVE AN A- IN?

Two Letters: P and E. 

School ends in thirty days. Our State meet is in a few weeks. I only have a total of six vital vocabs. for this quarter. And the best of all, my sister comes home from college in less than two weeks! 

Playing Badminton in P.E.
(Photo Courtesy of The Cavitt Chronicle)

This all sounds pretty great right? So why is it that I still completely dread every other day of my life. 

Well, to begin with I don’t exactly appreciate being constantly told to spit out the gum that I am not even chewing. Mr. Torrey has the eyes of a hawk. He could spot gum chewing from a mile away. 

Speaking of miles, I run close to thirty of them every week. Mr. Torrey obviously does not realize this because I just received 10/15 on in class participation. THAT’S A D. Supposedly I need to put forth more effort. How am I supposed to break a sweat in P.E.? Not to mention, while playing badminton.

For the record, this is no grandiose and I am not being overdramatic. I have talked to plenty of other students who clearly express the same hate as me for P.E. 

I think this is mainly because we all have after school sports and we don’t need to waste our energy on 90 minutes of whacking a birdy across a three foot tall net. While, I might add, holding a germy and archaic racket that could easily cause me to come down with an incurable illness. 

So much better.
(Photo Courtesy of Mountain Home)

I have written this blog post three times. It is very difficult to bring out my inner kindness on a subject I feel so strongly about. I understand that P.E. is an imperative class in many cities because it requires kids to become active. However, we live in Park City, Utah. So why stay in a stinky gym for 90 minutes when you could embrace all the incredible things Park City has to offer in the great outdoors. 

I would much rather go smell the fresh air on a mountain biking trail than sit in the windowless gym of Treasure Mountain playing Badminton. 

For the record, that is coming from the girl who hates mountain biking with a passion. A strong passion.

P.S. I used three vital vocabulary words in this blog post. #proudmoment

Back to Reality

I am going to make an educated guess. And of course I am no mad scientist but I can almost guarantee that you had a spectacular week. OMG how did I know that your week was so great? Two words. SPRING. BREAK. Also known as "The best week of the entire school year".

After making that conjecture I am able to create yet ANOTHER educated guess. Right now you are one of three people. (Wow! I'm not even in Honors Biology and look at me making all these hypothesis') 

Soakin' up the sunshine during Spring Break!

Person number one is what we call an over achiever, however it is the day before school starts up again and what are they doing? They are outside soaking up the last few rays of the annual spring break sunshine and simply enjoying life. Why? Because they got all their work done before break even started! I will forever look up to those kids who turn in their assignments a day early, but that’s just not me. This brings me to person number two. 

Person number two is what we call a procrastinator. Also known as the person who waits to do all of their work until Sunday. Also known as me. Of course, Sunday is always the most beautiful day of spring break. The birds are chirping, the temperature is a perfect 70 degrees, and there is not a cloud in the sky. Sadly, we procrastinators spend most of our last day of break inside, at the kitchen table, doing our most favorite thing in the entire world, homework.

The Dungeon.
(Photo courtesy of YouInParkCity)

Person number three looks at life in a completely different way. They simply don’t do the work at all. I know what you’re thinking, “OMG how could someone possibly just not do their homework!?!?” In all honesty, I used to look down on these people. Like c’mon, everyone else does their homework, why can’t you? However, I have recently come to realize that these people have a pretty cool perception on life. I mean, You Only Live Once so why not relish every single day? 

As a side note I would like to say that although, this life motto may sound very amusing, it is not for everyone. I mean yeah I sometimes wait until last minute to get a task done, but I could never go on living knowing that I completely exempted something from my to do list. (For clarification go read Blog Post #16.) 

Well, that’s all for now. Hope you guys are enjoying whatever you are doing whether that is soaking up the sun or writing an essay. See you all tomorrow at the dungeon.

I’ve decided that that was a really terrible way to end a blog post. I don’t want to fill you guys with gloominess as you head into school tomorrow. SO, I have decided to leave you on a different note: THERE ARE ONLY 38 MORE DAYS LEFT OF SCHOOL. Now that’s something worth smiling about.

Working Hard to Conquer Hard Work

This quarter Mr. Parker, being the jubilant man he is, assigned us to write eight blog posts. EIGHT WHOLE BLOGS POSTS! I didn't think I could do it, I mean that is at least one post per week and I am a very busy girl. HOWEVER, here I sit and what am I doing? Writing post numero ocho. #proudmoment. 

Ya know, I have to say that sometimes Mr. Parker's class almost makes me cry because of how stressed I am. That was a lie, it DOES make me cry. I have multiple times throughout the year. So the real question is, why would I ever take a class that causes so much fraught? Well, to begin with I would like to say that I learned the word "fraught" while writing a vital vocab. earlier this year. So that can be reason number one I guess. 

Obviously vital vocab. isn’t the only thing we do for that class. So, I better come up with some other reasons. 

The Park City Ski Team Team Room. 

The Park City Ski Team has a locker room at the ski resort that all the athletes have available to store their equipment. Each member of the ski team has their own locker. Some people, including myself, choose to purchase a plaque to put on their locker in which a remembrance, owner's name, or quote may be displayed. Anyway, every single day I walk passed the same lockers, perusing each plaque, and every single day the same one catches my eye. Its plaque reads, "The harder I work, the luckier I get." I have decided this is going to be my life motto because "hard work" can truly get you anywhere in life. And I have without a doubt learned the true definition of "hard work" through the three quarters I have had Mr. Parker as a teacher. 

I have spoken with multiple upcoming freshman who say they are not going to take Honors English because they think they are inept and simply not “smart” enough. I tell every single one of them the same thing: “Mr. Parker’s class is about 1/5 pure intelligence and about 4/5 time management and hard work. It is hardly the matter of how “smart” you are, it is how much time you are willing to put into one class.”

Right now, I have a myriad of things on my to do list. And, I would say over half of them are for English. I have to study for a test, read a book, memorize a speech, write an essay, and finish my blog all by next week. I admit, it is difficult to get all of these tasks done, but it is not impossible. And when I do get them done, it feels that much better. 

I am a straight A student, but I was dubious towards whether this class would ruin the streak. I admit that I almost chickened out last minute, however I did not. And I can now proudly say taking Honors English 9 is one of the best decisions I have ever made. 

I have already signed up to take Creative Writing next year. Partially because I have learned to love to write, but mostly because it is taught by THE Mr. Parker. 

I highly encourage all upcoming students, like any of you are reading this, to take Honors English in your 9th grade year. It is not only a class that prepares you for future English classes in High School or College, but it is a class that will prepare you for life… Where late work is never acceptable!

*As a side note for all you oblivious people, I would like to say that I used seven vital vocabulary words in this blog post. How deft of me… Make that eight.* 

The Vocabulary is Actually Vital, Don’t Forget To Do It

You know those nights where you sit straight up in bed freaking out because you forgot to do something? 

It was 11:40 on a Wednesday night. (Actually, I am not really sure what time it was but just go with it for the dramatic experience). Where was I? Oh yeah, it was 11:40 on a Wednesday night. I had gone to bed without doing any homework thinking that I had none to do. BIG MISTAKE. Life Lesson: There is always homework. Especially if you are in 9th grade Honors English class… Preferably with Mr. Parker. 

Anyways, the hair stood straight up on the back of my neck. My Vital Vocabulary. 

I know what you are thinking… Vital Vocab… Seriously Liza? You freaked out because of Vital Vocab?

I cannot deny it. There was no way I was going to bed that night with the thousands of possibilities crossing my mind: That’s it, I’ve failed the class. I’m never going to school again! When did I become so irresponsible? I’m Appalled at myself. What will colleges think of me? How will I show up everyday to school and face the hatred in Mr. Parker’s eyes? My life is over. 

My heart started beating a million times a minute. My head was throbbing. My shaking hands became clammy.

I bolted upstairs to my parent’s bedroom. They had been peacefully reading but both jumped out of bed at the sound of my scrambling footsteps. By the look on my face they probably thought my dog had a seizure or a real emergency was taking place. 

“MOM, I FORGOT TO DO MY VITAL VOCAB!!!” 

Ya know, usually when a person experiences a sensation like this in the middle of the night, they are comforted by their loving parents… Not laughed at. 

I wasn't kidding...

I guess now that I think back to the night, it was probably a pretty entertaining scene. I was hysterical. 

I have definitely learned more out of not doing my Vital Vocab. than I ever would if I had:

1. Never bound up the stairs if you have a 13 year old dog.
2. Never watch Pretty Little Liars on the night of a White Day. 
3. Never doubt the fact that you have homework… You ALWAYS do.

And, I have learned even more about myself:

1. I should probably keep an agenda.
2. I should probably set an alarm for Monday nights. (Already Accomplished). 
3. I should probably realize that while twenty points may seem like a lot at the time, it is not the difference between me becoming a garbage truck driver or a some wealthy anesthesiologist. 
4. I will always be some over-achieving, painstaking, meticulous dork.
5. I should probably stop refusing to accept number four. 

Two Hours of Happiness

There are two nights during the week that my family lives for. 

We go about a routine unlike any other day… We eat dinner on the couch. My mom stays up past eight o’clock. And the weirdest of all, I don’t wait until nine o’clock to begin my homework. 

You could say American Idol pretty much runs our lives.

(For the record that was a joke. We also enjoy watching the Bachelor.)

(For the record that was a joke too. We are actually a very active family that enjoys going on night walks, long hikes and excruciating bike rides. Because we all know how much I LOVE to bike right???) 

"And this, is American Idol!" -Ryan Seacrest
(Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia)

Every family has that one thing that they kind of keep a secret because it’s a little embarrassing. Well ours is the fact that we absolutely live for Wednesday and Thursday nights because we get to watch our favorite singing competition. Oops, I guess I kinda just let the family secret slip. That’s okay I trust my four followers will keep it under the radar. 

OMG I almost forgot to tell you guys the great news! I obtained another follower on Tuesday, that brings me to… Da da da daaa da da da daaaaa four followers!! I don’t know if I have ever been so excited before. Morgan, whoever you are, just know that you totally made my week… And probably my month too. 

HE'S SO COOL.
(Photo Courtesy of Pitch)

ANYWAYS, back to American Idol. 

SO, when I try to express my love for the show to my friends, I am immediately shut down by their gossip from some show called the Voice. Like, why would you watch THAT when you can watch Idol, am I right? I do not know who the judges are on The Voice, but American Idol has the best of the best, which is practically unbeatable. Harry Connick Jr., who has sold over twenty-eight million albums worldwide. Jennifer Lopez, named the world’s most beautiful women by People Magazine. And Keith Urban, I don’t even have to justify him. IT’S KEITH URBAN. The most beautiful man in the world… Named by ME. 

As you can see, American Idol is a pretty special thing. And the best part is it makes everyone happy. 

My mom has something to look forward to all day long and it gives her a reason to stay up past her usual of eight o’clock. 

My dad, although he puts on the, “I am way too cool for this show” face, I almost always catch him texting in a vote on the American Idol app. 

My dog, because if you haven’t noticed, dogs like any scenario where the family is all sitting in one room and they can wedge in comfortably between two members. 

My sisters and I because we simply love the show… And looking at Keith Urban!

And lastly, my super cool teachers, who are happy because television is making a positive impact on the amount of procrastination I do in a week. 

Who knew TV could be so great? 

Obviously not  the people watching the Voice, am I right?

Half Way There

HELLLOOO fellow bloggers. Well I guess I shouldn’t totally doubt that my only readers are fellow classmates because I know for a fact that I do have some real followers… Shoutout to my mom’s book club! 

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW SOMETHING COOL? 

FYI that was rhetorical. I am going to tell you something cool either way.

Anywho, WE ARE EXACTLY HALF WAY THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR. 

We are at the peak of a steep, STEEP mountain and will soon be gracefully heading down. 

Actually… I take that back because really we are still going up. School ain’t gunna to get any easier. Lunch ain’t gunna get any yummier. The building ain’t gunna get any bigger. The clock ain’t gunna move any faster. And your stress level ain’t gunna get any lower. 

However, now my fellow students and I can get a good idea of what to expect as we arrive at the dungeon each morning. Such as the hallways.

The ladies causing traffic. 

Our hallways have a very close resemblance to a highway. During rush hour. The right side goes one way and the left side goes the opposite. But then there are those groups of girls that just can’t seem to figure it out and cause problems. I mean seriously, it is not necessary to stop in the middle of the hallway(causing traffic) just to tell your bestie how cute their outfit is today. This is a very nice compliment but it’s not like the outfit will lose its cuteness by lunch!

In Park City, Ninth grade is one of the biggest years of our lives. We are the children that the streets of our town is watching out for because we earn our permits and are newbies on the roads. Well some of us at least, I don’t get it because some kids wait another six months after their birthday before they get their permit. Why would you ever put the freedom to drive on hold? It will always remain a mystery to me. On March 25th 2015, Park City better make way because that is the day my hands will touch the steering wheel and my foot will push the gas pedal. You know assuming I pass the test… knock on wood.

Ninth grade is also our last year at Treasure before we enter the menacing Park City High School. But it is sort of nice because we won’t be the scrawny freshmen walking the halls… We will be the totally mature and fully developed sophomores. I just love the ring of that! “Sophmores”. It sounds so… so sophisticated.

Oh man I am gettin’ myself too excited too fast again! I keep forgetting that we still have two whole quarters left. 90 days filled with pure happiness… Or stress, hunger, and misery. It is how ever you choose to look at it. 

Life Is Good

It was 6:47 pm on a Sunday night and I was struggling to think of something to blog about. The usual thought process: “What is something that I can vent on that has recently happened in my life?” Then an unexpected thought popped into my head: “Wait, why do I have to write about something negative?” 

Now it is 6:49 pm and I have the idea. A blog post about how completely awesome and spectacular my life is right now.

Tuesday, November 11th:

“I live in Park City.” I have said those words too many times to count in the past year. Honest hour: I was lying. Whew! I’m glad I got that off my chest! I have been living in Peoa while our home in Park City was getting an addition. Seriously, how long can it possibly take to add a garage and one room to a house? Apparently an extremely long time. The remodel began in October of 2013 and was supposed to be finished in April. Then the date got pushed to July. Then September. November 11th. The day I finally became an official Park City resident. That is something to be more than happy about!

Takin' my pup for a walk in the fresh snow!

Thursday, November 13th: 

There is only one thing that can put a smile on my face when I wake up at 6:00 am to head to the dungeon, aka school: Snow falling from the sky! Any kid living in Park City can relate. Snow means the beginning of many things: Sledding, wearing puffy coats, Drinking hot cocoa, Wearing UGGS, ice skating, a possible snow day, feeling cozy, catching snowflakes on your tongue, wearing sweaters, and my all time favorite: Listening to Christmas music. I wait all year for that fluffy white stuff to fall from the sky so when the day finally comes, I am obliged to write about it. 

Friday, November 14th: 

Happiness in a box.
(Photo Courtesy: Nationwide Candy)

I am just going to put it out there now that most adults will not understand how this event made the cut to be retold on this blog. Most kids, specifically ones with Mrs. Alplanalp as a teacher, on the other hand will totally see my point of view. Fourth period. This is usually the time of day when students start to tune out learning. The only thing they want to listen to is the sound of their face hitting the pillow on their bed. Mrs. Alplanalp, is probably the only teacher that understands this. Mrs. Alplanalp also knows that any child, no matter what age, will wake up and participate for one thing: CANDY. It was decided that we would play Bingo. You can probably guess the winning prize. You could hear a nickel drop in that room. The game was intense but would shortly be put to an end. I looked down at my bingo sheet and saw heaven. Just kidding, but it was pretty close to heaven. A continuous row of bingo chips sat smiling up at me. You don’t understand how big of a deal this was for me. I thought I was the definition of an unlucky person. 

I am definitely going to try this optimistic blogging thing again some time! I hope my readers will realize that I am not as negative of a person as my posts make me out to be. Although voicing my troubles in life on this blog makes be feel good, expressing the moments of happiness feels even better.