Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Hey guys! Well first off, I hope that everybody's break is going well! And second, Christmas? Yeah, it's finally only a day away...I can't believe it. Even though there is no snow on the ground yet, there is still a chance for it! If it doesn't, though, I still hope that everybody has a wonderful holiday(: Merry Christmas, and a happpy New Year!! See you in 2012!

My Obsession...

Okay, so yes, I am reading on break....but only because this series is probably the best one that I have read in my whole entire life. Yes, you guessed it: THE HUNGER GAME SERIES, so spoiler alert! I read "The Hunger Games" and "Catching Fire," and right now I have about 30 pages left in "Mockingjay." But then what? I will be left to just think about the adventures of the book until the first movie comes out in March. Bummer. These next few months will be dreadful, but I can only imagine how the movie will be well worth the wait.

Every night, I try and read a chapter of the book, but when I read the last page and close my book for the evening, I cannot seem to sleep. Why? BECAUSE THIS BOOK IS LIKE AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER! I don't care what anyone says, but if this series does not bring you to tears at at least one point, then you have absolutely no heart whatsoever. After reading the books, no girl wants to admit it, but they are all jealous of Katniss. Every girl wants Peeta, the perfect lover, and Gale, the strong best-friend. I don't know what happens in the end, but I do know that this series was written by a genius, Suzanne Collins. I'm proud to say that I'm obsessed with these books. I feel like everything that happens to Katniss happens to me because the reality of it is so vivid and heartrending. Well, I'm going to go and finish the rest of the book! If it's as good as everyone says, I will likely be crying all night...(:

First Night Off

Well, last Friday night was the first night of our Winter Break, and let me tell you, it was a memorable one because we finally beat Merrillville in basketball! My sister and I don't always go to the games, but since it was a Friday and we had already bought season passes to any of the Lake Central home games, we decided to go. Once we got there, we were happy that we came. In the Lake Central gym, we met up with a bunch of our friends and took our seat in the bleachers.

After only a couple of minutes into the first quarter, I knew the game was going to be intense, and it was! During the last few seconds of the fourth quarter, we tied up with Merrillville, leading our team to fight it out in overtime. In the end, we won, and praise erupted on the Lake Central side of the gym. It was a fun game, and I'm happy that my sister and I decided to go after all.

The Beauty of the Season

The time of year has finally come! There is only five more days of school left until Winter Break! After this Friday, Lake Central will become unattached to me for a whole two weeks (except for when I have to think about homework hahha). Over our time off, I plan on doing a lot of things, one of them being getting some sleep! But also, I want the snow to fall swiftly on the grass...enough where is covers your porch and the drifts are almost as tall as yourself. I want to spend time with friends and family and really enjoy the season. I want to see the rush at the malls and all of the last minute shoppers bustling around the store. I want to bake (yes, bake) until I cannot anymore. Most importantly, though, I want this season to allow the people to come out of their struggles, if only for a little while, to see the beauty of this time of year. We only have five more days, and then all of this is ours.

Crazy Friday Night...Not Really

Do you know that feeling when your with someone and your so close to them that you don't feel the need to entertain? Well, that was me last night. My friend Cassidy came over, and we literally did not leave the computer all night because we were skyping some friends...so all night we sat and just ate. Normally, I would have felt funny just doing that when a friend comes over, but I know that Cassidy and I don't have to entertain each other. There's an old quote that reads: "True friendship comes when the silence between two people is comfortable." So yes, even though we didn't really do anything last night, it was nice to just realx. After all, Friday nights only come once a week, so spend them how you want.

There's Always Next Year

So today, our whole Theatre Troupe had to wake up about 3:30 this morning because our bus left Lake Central at 5:15! Why? It was for regionals of course! We were presenting our fall show "Don Quixote" in hopes to advance on to state. Today's competition took place in Purdue in Lafayette, and as soon as I saw our other competitors, I knew today was going to be a long day.

In the end, even though we gave it our best shot, our Troupe did not end up in the top three, meaning that we will not be performing at the state competition. However, my sister and I are going to be participating in a group acting competition at state with some of our friends, so we are still excited to compete for that. Although today's competition did not go as planned, it was still a great experience...I guess there is always next year to aim for!

A Taste of the Holidays

Well, it was exactly one month yesterday until Christmas day is here!! For me, it's exciting because when I think about Christmas, it makes me think of all of all of my winter childhood memories and how much fun we all had together. As a family, we would bake cookies, go shopping for gifts, and even play out in the snow; but now since my sister and I are older, we hardly have time to do anything of the sort anymore.

Still, this season brings a new year! Today we are going to put up our Christmas tree, along with numerous other decorations on the inside of our house. This just gives our home a taste of the holidays to come. Only three more weeks left of school, and then we're out for Christmas. That is when the real holidays will begin!

Techno-LOGIC

So I was just thinking...what will technology be like in one hundred years? Think about it: in only a couple of decades, we invented touch-screen phones, iPods, iPads, cameras, and even some computers. Our televisions can record some shows so that you can watch them when its convenient for you, and even some cars can now be set to "voice-command."

Since almost all of these devices are updated yearly, such as the current iPhone 4S, then who knows what is coming next? For all that we know, our cars will soon be able to fly instead of drive, and you could then reach your locations faster. With new technology, people may one day even be able to turn back or fast-forward time so that they can have control. Some people may think the idea of new technology is revolting, and while I can see where they're coming from, I'm anxious to see what technological advances the upcoming years will bring.

Bummer Break

So this break has been kind of a bummer for me. Why? Well, it's been like this because I have been sick since Wednesday night and I am still sick!!!!!!! This just must not be my week. Because I was sick, I pretty much did not have a Thanksgiving, nor did I go Black Friday Shopping. Yes, I missed my favorite shopping day of the year!!! So yes, you could say that it was a fail of a weekend...and to think that I looked forward to this for months!

One...Two...Three...BLOW OUT THE CANDLES!

Well, today is the day! I am proud to say that I am now officially 15 years old, although I don't feel any older than I did yesterday. This birthday is especially significant to me for several reasons. For one, it is my golden birthday! Second, I am 50% Mexican, and in most Latin-speaking countries, a girl's 15th birthday is much like an American girl's Sweet-Sixteen birthday. In Mexico, this special celebration is called a Quinceañera.

As far as my birthday wish, I would rather keep it a secret. By revealing it, I might increase my chances of jinxing it! Yes, a birthday is a special occasion that only comes around once every 365 days, but I guess that today, I am most thankful for that fact that I was lucky enough to spend my own 15th birthday with the people that mean the most to me: my friends and family.

Golden Shades For Golden Memories

Autumn. Autumn is one of my favorite seasons, but I feel like it goes by so quickly. Before I know it, Christmas will be here. Despite its rapid changes, I have always admired fall, maybe because it seems to open up many new opportunities for people. For example, I feel that the leaves turning to golden shades, cracking off the tree, and leaving the branch nude all symbolize a fresh start for people. The weather begins to change, and it rejuvenates some people with a feeling of hope for a new beginning.

This season is one that forces me to recollect my childhood, and it makes me yearn for it back. Some memories, such as trick-or-treating with my sister, my younger birthday parties, and thanksgiving celebrations all occurred during the fall season. Being older now just makes me realize how precious these moments actually are. These symbols are what bring alive my inner childhood again.

Backed Up On Overload...

You know what I hate? HOMEWORK. This whole weekend, I literally have not been home, so today is my only day to relax...but no! Since I haven't been home, I haven't started any homework, and I have a lot. On the weekends, some students choose to sleep in and relax, but others go out and do things with friends that they cannot do on the weekdays. However, teachers believe that we don't have a life outside of school, so they pile on the work to keep us busy. And I am sure that I am not the only one who thinks this way. So today, instead of catching up on sleep and having some time to do what I actually want to do, I will be sitting at my kitchen table doing homework for probably most of the day. Thank you teachers.

Signed,
Busy Student

Night With My Girls

It was Thursday night when it happened. My sister and I had three of our best friends over just to hangout and watch movies with. Soon after they arrived, they decided that they wanted to make Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookies, a type of cookie that my sister and I did not even know was possible to be made. In any event, we looked up the recipe online, and set about to make the cookies. We laughed and goofed around the whole time that we were making the batter, taking at least a million pictures and videos along the way! Finally, we were done preparing the cookies, so we put them in the oven. As the minutes passed, the cookies seemed to not be baking. We all thought that these were just "weird" cookies and needed extra time to cook. No, that definitely was not it! I took them out of the oven only to find that the cookies were tripled in what their normal size should have been! Somewhere along the way, one of us must have added too much baking soda. Despite this mishap, the cookies were still amazingly delicious! We enjoyed them as we watched our movies, and as we continued to laugh and take pictures, we realized that our girls night could not have turned out better.

Not Even Enough Time to Panic!

Some people believe that studying for tests is useless, while others think that studying is what helps them to pass school. I would have to say that I'm the type of person that feels the need to study. If I don't, I feel as if I'm not prepared, almost like I'm missing something. However, there is not always time to study. Well, that day came for me about two weeks ago. All week, I had been planning to leave all of Thursday night open so that I could study for my Geometry test that was the following day. Now, I know what you're thinking: why do I need an entire night just to study for a math test? Actually, I probably should have saved MORE time because the tests, in my opinion, are tough. However, I only saved on night.

Thursday rolled around, and a mandatory Theatre rehearsal came up, so that wasted three hours of my night. By the time I arrived home, it was six o' clock, and I still had to finish other homework! So I immediately took a shower, ate dinner, and started working on the homework that was due tomorrow. The previous night, I stayed up late finishing other homeowork, and I guess I was so exhausted from that that I just completely crashed on Thursday night. When I woke up in the morning, I felt well-rested, but it hit me that I had not yet studied. It seemed that I didn't even have enough time to panic.

When I got to school, the day seemed to drag by. When it finally came time to take the test, I froze up. I could not seem to remember anything how I had hoped I would. All of the numbers of the page seemed to make a haze in my eyes, and soon enough, the whole page became a blur. I wracked my brain hoping for any sort of hints that would help me, and suddenly, it all came back to me. It was a miracle! I almost stood up and screamed to congratulate myself, but I remembered that I was still in the classroom. As a result of my memory, I completed the whole test, and even got an "A" on it. That day, I learned that sometimes the worst situations can turn into the best. Sometimes you just have to let your situations work their own way out, and it may be you who benefits in the end.

Second Sister

As a sort of continuation of my last blog, I would like to talk about another person that has influenced me. Her name is Cassidy Michau, and I honestly do not know how I would live without her.

First of all, we have know each other since about first grade, but we were never really friends. You know that feeling, right? Well, that is what happened to us. It was just this past year that we have become close. I have our last names to thank for that. You see, since our last names both ends with an "M", we were assigned to sit next to each other in English because the seating chart was alphabetical. From there, we have only grown closer. For example, we took the same summer school course, and the groups were also set in alphabetical order, so we again were with each other all day.

In today's world, it is hard to find true friends that you know that you can always depend on, and without her, I would not have that kind of friend. We are always there for each other, and most importantly, we can trust each other. I feel like I owe it to her because she is always there for me when I have a story to tell, want to laugh or talk, or just hangout. Yes, we both love to laugh and by crazy, so we have a lot of fun. I will never forget any of the memories that I have shared with her, and I know there will be more to come.

Some people think that you cannot possibly be best friends with somebody that you just "met" a year ago, but in our case, it could not be farther from the truth. I absolutely love her! She is my best friend, and she has brought the best out of me.

My One and Only

This week, I have been thinking.  For my first couple of blogs, I really want to give credit to some of the people that influence me.  The first one on my list is my sister, Victoria.

To start, Victoria, or as I call her, Toya, is two years older than I am, so we share many experiences.  Many siblings have innumerable fights a week, but my sister and I could not be closer.  Honestly, I do not know where I would be without her.  In fact, I'd probably wind up as a lazy, irresponsible person wandering through the woods without a clue of what I should be doing!  From the time I was born, she has taught me many life skills.  Some of these include to always laugh at the little things in life, never take anything for granted, and to always be yourself.  These are mottoes that I will never forget.

Nights that we stay up until three in the morning laughing because we're "slap-happy" are memories that I will always cherish.  Yes, we have lots of fun times goofing around together.  Everything from fashion to academics, you name it.  Toya is on top notch with it all.  She is a straight-A student, taking Honors and AP courses.  On top of it all, she is still extremely social and can balance out her activities well.  I look up to her as my role model, and she has never let me down.

I could go on and on about my sister for days, but this is basically my thank you to her in a nutshell.  Toya is one of those few people who I know will always be there for me, and I will always be there for her.  She is my one and only sister, and I love her with all of my heart.I know that we will continue to grow even closer, and I wouldn't have it any other way.