This is Just the Beginning...

A lot of kids are going to tell you that this is their last blog post ever. Well stay tuned because that’s not the case for me!

At the beginning of the year, Mr. Parker told our class to write down what we thought a blog was. This is what I put: “I think a blog is a personal website with stories where the reader can express their feelings and the posts are published for anyone to read.” 

Little did I know that expressing my feelings would not only benefit myself.

The other day in English class a girl came up to me and said, “OMG I love reading your blog, Liza.” She completely changed the way I think of posting

You gotta love this place.

At the beginning of the year, I looked at blogging as a way to express MY feelings, I didn’t necessarily care who else it impacted. Actually, I guess you could argue that at that time I had zero followers so it really wasn’t impacting anyone else. However, now that I can proudly say I have eight followers, I realize that my blog made a bigger impact on others than I ever thought possible. That’s what blogging is really about. Uniting people through common experiences or beliefs. 

After first quarter, if someone had asked if I thought I would continue to blog once the year ends I would have probably said “no.” At that point blogging was difficult for me, all my ideas were there, I just didn’t know how to put them on paper. On the other hand, if someone asked me if I was going to continue writing my blog after its not a requirement for a grade, I would say “hopefully!” Blogging is no longer an assignment for me, it’s something I look forward to doing.

So, I just want to give a HUGE thank you to all of the people who have given me a reason to write this blog: My parents, sisters, friends, fellow classmates, my mom’s book club, Mr. Parker, and obviously the most important of all: My two fluffy donkeys. If I didn’t have you guys, I would simply have nothing to write about. So you definitely deserve some credit. 

It's so fluffy I'm gunna die!

But I would also like to give an even HUGER thank you to blogging itself. As much as I complain about writing blogs I know I will eventually learn to become thankful for it. 

Ever since I started writing a blog I look at experiences differently and always wondering: “Is that a good blog topic?” Luckily, our wonderful town of Park City, UT is always buzzing with material to write/gossip/complain about.

Every town is known for something:

Aspen, Colorado is known for great hiking trails.

Florence, Italy is known for having great food.

Los Angeles, California is known for being the home of celebrities. 

Dublin, Ireland is known to be filled with kind people.

Big Sky, Montana is known for having insane skiing.

And Park City, UT? We’re known to have them all!

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. 

Back by Popular Demand

This blog picks up where my sister left off two years ago. She gets credit for the creative blog name. Technically our mother deserves the actual credit for the name, because she suggested it in honor of her favorite country music group, Little Big Town. 

Image Courtesy of The Boot

According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, "little" and "big" are antonyms. Based on the definition, most would think that it would be impossible for one town to fall under both of these categories. No town can be little and big at the same time and is usually classified as one or the other. Park City, UT is the exception. 

I attend Treasure Mountain Junior High which begins each day at 7:30 am. On the first day of school I left my house at 7:10. I thought this would give myself plenty of time to get to school and not be tardy. I was wrong. I turned the corner where Treasure comes into view and I was faced with a tremendously long line of traffic. I assumed “traffic” only happened in big towns like Los Angelus or New York City but maybe Park City isn’t as small as I thought it was. 

Image Courtesy of Park City Rental Properties

Having said that, the Police Blotter for Los Angeles most likely contains information about murders or burglaries. Park City’s police blotter on the other hand, includes things such as complaints made about dogs off leash or a moose seen crossing mainstreet. Reading these kinds of things in the newspaper reminds me of how small Park City actually is. 

Park City isn’t confused as to whether it is little or big, it just so happens to be both, which I consider pretty cool. Park City is the ideal place to grow up, not too little and not too big. It is my "little big town".