Amanda's Blog (88)

We are family (pronounced fa-muh-lee).

It has been an insane week. like literally insane! But a great one at that, or at least after yesterday it has been just super. First, the big news of the day: I MADE JAZZ CHOIR!!! I'm so freaking excited because Jazz Choir is amazing. I cannot even believe I get to sing with Jessie, Cheyenne and Maren. They are so sweet and all have b-e-a-uitiful. And I definitely get to be in the awesome Pops Concert next year. Yaaay! The next good news, I finally got those contacts. After getting poked and… Continue

Added by Amanda on May 22, 2008 at 6:30pm — No Comments

The Ultimate Sophomore 100.

I can't wait for the end of the school year, I have to start this now. I have devised the idea for a project for the summer. Everyone gets a bit bored during the summer, right? So through the positive feedback I got from PotP, I have created this: The Ultimate Sophomore 100. Let's break it down. The Ultimate Sophomore 100 Description: A challenge to write 100 short drabbels about anything and everything. Readers may or may not suggest topics but any and every topic requested will be written. A… Continue

Added by Amanda on May 18, 2008 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Joy-fullness in Jazz Choir!

And all was calm. Oh as calm as it will ever get. Hello, darling friends of mine. It feels liked it has been forever since I wrote a traditional non-ranting non-Part of the Pride blog, hasn't it? No matter. On the plus side, I have many updates. By the weekend, I will have Atlanta and Band Camp 2007 pictures up. I finally got the pictures developed and they are great! And in true fashion, the end of the school year should bring about a fun surprise that will help you understand all of my strang… Continue

Added by Amanda on May 12, 2008 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Stress, thy name is Amanda.

Everyone has stress in there life. For some people, it's their job. For others, it's their significant other. And there are still those who have a category all to themselves, take your pick. For me, it's my job, my lack of significant other, and things like being a section leader that drive me up the wall. My job requires precision, heart and no soul/tons of soul. One minute, I am a Russian Assassin, ready to kill. The next, I am walking through the park daydreaming. And after that, I am rantin… Continue

Added by Amanda on May 6, 2008 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Part of the Pride-Chapter Ten

u>Epilogue A.K.A. Evolution. Now, months have passed since I first stepped on to the marching field, nothing more than a nameless Freshman. Lets just say, things have changed. Not trying to brag about myself, but I've gotten way better. I made Symphonic Band, which is the highest band a Freshman can make and I went to All-Region. I've been conducting class in vocal and our Spring trip to San Antonio was like an extra spring break...slash winning spree for our concert bands. The Band r… Continue

Added by Amanda on May 4, 2008 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Part of the Pride-Chapter Nine

Atlanta: the Final Frontier. We left on a Thursday morning. It was still dark outside as I piled on bus number three, carrying my flute hoodies, section shirt, snap-up pants and a sort of gift box from the band patrons. Kristi and I laughed as we realized our pants were way too big and way to easy to pull off, but we were happy to have them anyway. Soon, we were all ready to go, loaded down with instruments, homework, uniforms and overnight bags. Pillows were soon punched into sha… Continue

Added by Amanda on April 27, 2008 at 6:30pm — No Comments

My Inner Playlists.

So I've been asked about a dozen times to put down a couple playlists, so here are a few to get you all off my back! The Great Band Playlist (in no particular order) -Thnks fr the Mmrs by Fall Out Boy (It may have dumb lyrics, but it has a good steady beat and really gets you in the mood to do something active.) -Over My Head (Cable Car) by The Fray (With its great melody and meaningful lyrics, it's the prefect thinking song. Plus, I L.O.V.E. The Fray!) -Moondance by Michael Buble (Such a gr… Continue

Added by Amanda on April 27, 2008 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Two, four, six, eight, block schedule days I truly hate!

Today was interesting. I say this for may reasons. First off, I was determined this day would be better than yesterday. Second, today was a 2, 4, 6 day and I had my first part of testing. And also, the week was making everyone really ditsy. In Mrs. McBride's class, she chose a few names at random to pick groups. Chase, general class clown/band nerd went up and chose John and I. I smiled because they are both good friends of mine. Then, Chase chose Cody and Sam, two more friends. And then, sudde… Continue

Added by Amanda on April 25, 2008 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Ranting is good for the soul!

It has been insanely stressful here the past few weeks. The stupid 'Block Schedules' have kicked in and everyone is cranky, tired and mean. I actually had to delete my Truthbox because of the god awful comments I was getting. I'm not angry though. It really opened my eyes. First off, I can't trust one of my closest friends who didn't even bother to cover her tracks after posting a hate message. And Cooper will always take a chance to swear. Yes, he was our little bottom feeder, folks. Love you t… Continue

Added by Amanda on April 24, 2008 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Jocks with be Jocks and Nerds will be Nerds.

Do you know what? I hate block scheduling. The only good thing is I get more time for my writing and that is it. Speaking of which, today, everyone was a little off. I think a lot of it had to do with no one who be going to band and for me, I had to spend two god awful hours with Mr. Martin. I'm sorry, but we really did try to get him to like us, but he just doesn't. He leaves the classroom all the time, comes in late, screams, throws tennis balls at people, doesn't teach, gives us too much home… Continue

Added by Amanda on April 16, 2008 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Part of the Pride-Chapter Eight

Tensions, Tempers, In-fighting and the almighty Jack. The week following BA Invitational was a scary and awful. Tension was the least you could say walking in that Band Room Monday morning. That was also the first week Mr. Taylor yelled. He screamed at an upperclassmen and I. I was shaking from head to toe and an apology tripped out of my mouth as soon as we took a break. Mr. Taylor was taken aback though, to my surprise. He told me he wasn't yelling at me and the upperclassmen sh… Continue

Added by Amanda on April 16, 2008 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Happy National Kick a Freshman Day!

Oh boy and do I have a big bruise on my upper thigh to prove it. I had hoped, perhaps with the block scheduling we are enjoying and her research paper, maybe, just maybe, Kristi would forget about it. But no. Kristi remembers everything. And she's a good leader. She led all the sophomores in a round of kicking. I had also hoped I won't have to worry about this lovely holiday for another three years, but sadly, my 'unofficial' nickname is, yes, you guessed it: Freshman! But other than the stabbi… Continue

Added by Amanda on April 15, 2008 at 8:30pm — No Comments

Part of the Pride-Chapter Seven.

Invitational Immersion I think I noticed the changes in the band as the season progressed. We were given the slips for the Comp Band trips to the BOA Regional in Arlington and the Super Regional in Atlanta. It was the crowning achievement of the 2007 season and would cost a mildly non-disturbing fee of three hundred dollars. What can I say, Mr. Gorham is a very, very good organizer. Metzger was the only one to not turn in hers. Unfortunately, the policy was, everyone turns one in,… Continue

Added by Amanda on April 11, 2008 at 6:00pm — No Comments

An Ode to a Year of Blogging.

Today marks one year of blogging for me. As you probably don't remember, this blog was created to chronicle my life as a band/choir hybrid and my crazy friends and family. So far, mission accomplished. And to honor a year of OCD induced ranting and humor, I've written a poem. Nearly one year ago, an eighth grade flute player came home from a long day at school. She insisted a blog right then and there, claiming it was very near to "cool". So she tapped and tapped on her keyboard all afternoon… Continue

Added by Amanda on April 8, 2008 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Part of the Pride-Chapter Six.

Skin the Zebras!: Homecoming. True to her word, Metzger was not at Comp practice the following Monday. It felt strange, not running out of the group at any random moment to have my Doubler replace me. Those first few days were hard. But, it slowly became easier. The flutes got used to me being there that week. They would tell me things that would make a move easier, like if I should back into the spot or something of that nature. Everyone was pumped, so incredibly pumped for Home… Continue

Added by Amanda on April 4, 2008 at 2:58pm — No Comments

Medical Musicals, Holy Band Directors and Republicans.

Now that’s about the strangest title I’ve had in a long time. It sounded better in my head, really, it did! But whats done is done. This week has been rather strange. Mainly, everyone is practically vibrating from anticipation of the Band trip we are taking this weekend. This years Spring trip is to San Antonio. We are going to a concert band competition, than the awards are at Six Flags. Oh, and then we’re going to Sea World. Why? Because we can. So it’s just going to be a big old ’family’ vac… Continue

Added by Amanda on March 26, 2008 at 8:30pm — No Comments

Pacts are easier made than kept, that’s for sure!

How is it that something that shouldn’t mean so much, does just the opposite? Let’s see how many people would flunk that question on a standardized test! So after a few weeks of (accidental) broken promises, fake girlfriends, frustration, reruns, violent thoughts, anger, new cloths and writing like the wind, I think it’s about time to make a pact that will last for the blog. After much discouragement, Part of the Pride isn’t gonna make it back for a while. I know, i know, but the three hundred s… Continue

Added by Amanda on March 22, 2008 at 8:30pm — No Comments

Honesty is the best policy.

It really is. Which is why I'm going to be upfront and say that i haven't been writing because everything and every one's gone crazy! Friends are stabbing each other in the back. Musicianship's turned to cruel critiques. People aren't being very nice, to put it plainly. And between getting them to be nice, dealing with fighting friends, expertly flirting, reading old blogs, looking over old wounds, making all the shiny ones, and trying to plan auditions and parties and writing novel and novel-pr… Continue

Added by Amanda on March 1, 2008 at 7:30pm — 2 Comments

Sight reading "Signs of the Judgement" with my little sister.

Some moments you can predict. You know, like some people are just plain predictable? Well, that's like it is with my little sister Sara on sight reading Latin. It is really no easy feat, so I put aside an hour and a half to go over our Community Choir music with the new CDs. We did the song, "Kyrie" in school this fall because it part of the Caribbean Mass we were doing so I knew it by heart. It took us forever to get through the back page, but I am proud of Sara for her music, I mean, this is h… Continue

Added by Amanda on January 31, 2008 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Everything changes, when I turn around!

Jeez, I should have made "Write a new blog a week" one of my resolutions. I'm writing this really fast before things get crazy, what with bad weather, homework and ruined corn muffins to re-bake. I just got back from a retreat yesterday. It was great fun, even though my hard drive "Accidentally" trashed my pictures, but oh well. But one thing it made me realize, out of everything else I realized as well, was I am and was never one for cliques. I realized why i hated them. It's not right to leave… Continue

Added by Amanda on January 21, 2008 at 5:00pm — No Comments