Last year the Broadway phenomenon "Wicked" came to Louisville, I was so excited and planned on going to see it but I didn't find out about it soon enough and other things so I didn't get to go. As this is a major production and it's a major tour I didn't think it would come back to a city so close for a long time then I found out that it will be back in Louisville in May and I'm going as part of my graduation present. I am so excited I have read over summaries of the plot (because it's always good to have some idea of it before you go) and I've been listening to the fabulous music I can't wait to go see it with my family!

I don't understand how anyone could enjoy being home schooled although it can be better for one's education, high school is not just about the books you read and the papers you write it's also about the experience. I could not imagine going to "school" and not seeing my friends or having an actual teacher teach and the joy of finally being able to go home. Being in a school setting with other classmates and other teachers allow one to learn how important working with other people is even when you don't necessarily agree or get along with the other person and taking leadership and direction from an authoritative figure, even if you don't agree with that person one will always have to take orders from someone else there will always be someone above you that you have to listen to even if you don't like the person you still have to listen to them. Many young adults and students don't understand this they are headstrong and stubborn and can't wait to 'get out of the house and be on their own and not have to listen to their parents' well these teenagers are in for a HUGE wake up call. Not only will they have someone to answer to but they won't have the love, sympathy, and forgiveness of their parents. I think if someone is home schooled they may miss out on these important skills necessary to being independent

Sometimes I hear certain songs that are just so beautiful they make you want to cry even songs without words just classical songs that are so beautifully composed they put tears in your eyes. Such songs are "Adagio for Strings" by Samuel Barber, "October" by Eric Whitacre and "Rhosymedre" by Ralph Vaughn Williams. When someone participates in an orchestra or band there is a particular song that everyone remembers that somewhat summarizes their experience in that particular group. For me this song was "October" it was so beautiful there were 7 part harmonies and it was so intricate and musical. There is a difference between notes and music, the black and white on the page is simply the notes, the music is what the player brings to it, 80 percent of music is not written on the page. Dynamics, phrasing, style all of this is what makes a song. "October" exemplifies all of this and the way the harmonies come together it so beautiful I get goosebumps every time I hear it and I think of those that we have lost here at Apollo I jsut can't help but think of them. Even though it's not necessarily a sad song it's so moving.
The song was originally written as a band arrangement, although I may be somewhat biased as a string player I think this song is so much more beautiful as a string arrangement it's sharper and not as harsh. If you are interested in hearing it here is the best string version I have found.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K_Bwl_CaAY&feature=related

Today I found out that you can easily find fraud coupons for everyday items that are incredibly cheap. Although this is wrong the employees should pay more attention to things that they're accepting for coupons. seriously? a 4 pack of Monsters for 36 cents and on the coupon it says expires on November 31. There is no November 31. Kids will always be kids trying to cheat the system so can they really be blamed for just being kids? This can also be applied to other things such as kids wrestling and playing with each other, especially boys. Kids will be kids, boys will be boys, I think sometimes punishments can be too strict on them they're just children.

I've always heard that quote that "a friend will offer you anything to drink or eat a best friend will be the reason you don't have any food left to eat" I never thought I had a friend like this then i restored my relationship with dana.... so as i'm sitting here in her room.... on her computer.... eating her pudding I realized how important it is to have a friend that you feel just as comfortable as you do at your own house. It's a relief to know that when something happens at your house and you just don't want to be there there is an escape where someone is always there to talk it out with you and let you vent or cry or scream whatever.

"Let me tell you how you measure a man
when his world starts to fall see how tall he stands
it matters not how many times you fall down
what matters most is how many times you can rise
mistakes build character
and character can take you places money can't"

I was recently bored so I decided to get on youtube and find songs to listen to that I hadn't heard before. I love listening to music and lyrics so I clicked a video called "Remember Me" by T.I. and Mary J. Blige both artists that I love listening to so I was excited to hear the collaboration. When it started playing I heard T.I. say the above words as it shows him walking into a jail cell dressed in the notorious orange jumpsuit I realized how true these words are. T.I. was known to be the stereotypical rapper that only cares about exploiting women doing drugs etc but once he got charged with gun charges and sentenced to jail he completely changed his tune so to speak. I believe fully that "Mistakes build character" I think we learn more from our mistakes than our successes.

It doesn't seem like we only have a month before we graduate. I know I'm graduating but it still doesn't seem like it, I guess I haven't realized that I won't be coming back here anymore. When i walk down the halls I don't feel like a senior I feel like any other student but I remember when I was a freshman and I kept thinking "oh they're a senior" and I do wonder if when underclassmen that see me or have classes with me think like that too. I really don't feel any different than I did last year or the year before. It's somewhat exciting to be moving on with my life but it is sad because I love Apollo very much, as far as schools are concerned it's been great. Of course there are times where I've dreaded coming and there are teachers I could have survived without having but for the most part everyone here is so nice and helpful and it's not too small or too big, the programs are great, the people are great. So it's going to be sad to leave and of course like everything there will be certain things and people I miss more than others and I know everyone always says they'll come back and visit from time to time and I plan to when I can but I know it's probably unrealistic to say I will because I will be so far away. Although, I will have to come back to get my yearbook and I can't wait to come back and see old teachers etc.