Salutative Neglect

It's a term my AP US History teacher used to describe the way the British used to neglect us until the French and Indian War. It's supposed to mean neglect that is helpful and encourages independence. Obvious a blog cannot be independent but I hope that my time away from this blog has helped refresh me and that I won't get as burnt out on writing as I have in the past.

I got to looking at the entries and I realized that I skipped the entire months of July and August. How did that happen? Feels like just yesterday I was turning sixteen. Now I'm driving, FOR REAL. I drove to the Homemade Ice Cream and Pie Kitchen today! WITHOUT KILLING, MAIMING, CRASHING, OR OTHERWISE INJURYING ANYONE!!! Honestly, I was so proud of myself, words cannot describe it.

Some updates:

• I passed my CNA test. Some of my friends didn't not however...
• I've started school and set the grading curve on the first two of my AP Biology tests!!
• We moved my grandmother to an assisted living facility here in Small Town. Not the one that had a heart attack, the other one.
• I'm officially in Marching Band and not section leader which admittedly I'm miffed about but whatever, less stress for me.
• I'm starting a running blog with some other nerdfighters. We're training up to do charity runs. We have people from all over, even someone from CANADA! How cool is that? There's still time to join. Check us out at http://www.nerdrunners.blogspot.com

I've been sick lately so if I'm a little bad about blogging, try to give me a break. Well, more later and have wonderful Labor Day weekend.

Baking Cake

In my quest for things to make from scratch, I found this amazing cake mix.

You know how everyone has that one thing that calms them down and brings them back to center? Well I think baking spice cake to the dulcet tones of Chris Tomlin is what does it for me. Odd, I know, but it is extremely calming.

I woke up kind of sore from the practical tests we did yesterday in the CNA class and I really wanted a piece of the spice cake I baked last Sunday but it was all gone. So I'm making another one. And after I have a piece, I think I'll go biking a little bit and finish a book.

Oh happy day...





UPDATE:
I messed up the cake. I hope this isn't a sign of what's to come. Well, I didn't really mess it up. I just switched up the recipe up a little. Put a little too much milk and too little oil. Hopefully it'll be even better. Hopefully.

UPDATED UPDATE:
The cake was actually more of a cake than the way I normally make it. I still like the other way better.

General Confusion

When will I ever have a normal summer? I'm not complaining per say but seriously it seems that every summer something that has me a little off tilt. Honestly, it's no secret what has me off this year, but in the off chance he has somehow found my blog and realized who I am, I'd rather not say his name. Yes, my problem is of the male persuasion. Unfortunately, it's not one of those "oh-a-cute-guy-likes-me-but-i-don't-really-know-if-i-like-him-or-like-him-like-him" problems, its more of "why-do-keep-popping-up-in-my-life-just-to-remind-me-of-all-the-terrible-things-I've-tried-so-hard-to-forget-not-to-mention-all-the-really-sucky-things-you-did-to-me" problems. Fortunately, this problem will not be here when school starts and will not be returning next summer to confuse me.

But I have to admit there are things I want to talk about but I don't know who to trust. I was thinking of telling my mom but she kind of blew me off when I asked to talk. Then I was going to tell my friend but she was really immature and I never got around to it. I'm running out of ideas here and my thoughts are keeping me up at night. I didn't get to sleep till one or two in the morning last night because I couldn't stop wondering and thinking and problem solving and all that. It's maddening.

Abuse and Neglect

Sorry for neglecting the blog lately. It's a little hard to want to blog when you don't feel that anyone reads it. So if you're a lurker or just a passerby, it would be fantastic if you could leave a comment.

A lot has been going on lately. Monday and Tuesday of course were CNA days. They were...interesting to say the least but I won't get into that. It's a lot of ridiculously simple concepts that seem to be blown a little out of proportion. But I'm fifteen, so what do I know.

Today was the history camp everyone laughed at when I told them I was doing it. I was Jemimah Boone, in charge of my Boone family clan, none of whom were willing to change their names to those of actually Boone family members. It was actually really fun. I had a great group of kids; they were very attentive and respectful and did most of what I asked them to. I had a lot of fun teaching them the Painted Stone play seeing as we made it up as we went along and all of them wanted to be dead bodies. It was great.

I had signing practice after that. We're not proforming during the summer, just learning songs we really want to learn rather than have people tell us what to learn because it makes them feel important, like they've got a real show going, when we get up there and sign all their songs. No one else really cares; I'm the only person under 30 there and the rest of the ladies are all very nice. I've learned so much anout what they've been through and after it all they still have this amazing hopefulness about them. They're a real treat to hang out with; like and instant boost to your spirit.

Well, I'll try to write more later. Comment por favor.

Get Smart

Get Smart is one of the best movies I have ever seen. Steve Carell totally works for this role. I was a little iffy at first when I heard he'd be playing the part. Up until then, I'd only seen him in Bruce Almighty and Evan Almighty in which he wasn't very dynamic or funny. Then my mom bought Dan in Real Life, where Carell stars as an widowed advice columnist with three strong-willed daughters as they embark on their family reunion. My mom said he was pretty good in The Forty Year Old Virgin but for obvious reasons, I haven't seen it so I can't vouch. But nevertheless, this seems to top all of is former performances. Definitely worth the five dollars it took to see it. I can't wait until it comes out on DVD. It's going on my Christmas list.

In other news, this whole Birthday Party thing my sister and mom are so excited about it really stressing me out. I asked them to stop calling it my party. Either it was THE party or my get together. The word party has too many stressful conotations for me seeing as, for the most part, I don't like people. I know it sounds bad and I guess it is but...I don't have any excuses.

Long Lost Friend

Jeff was one of those people you never expected to hear from again. As my second grade best friend, he's one of those people that will forever be ingrained into my childhood memories. Being that both of us have since moved from the elementary school where we met and that we hadn't heard from his family in a solid five years, I didn't expect to happen upon him in this lifetime. Still, fate has it's way of intervening.

Today, as I was "cleaning my room" (i.e. messing around on the Internet/teaching myself how to quilt), my mom brought me up this old e-mail, Jeff's mom, Dorene, had sent to use when I was in sixth grade right after we'd moved to Small Town America. It had Jeff's old e-mail address on it and she thought I should try it, but like most old e-mail address, it wasn't in use anymore so I got one of those UNABLE TO DELIVER notices back about two seconds after I'd sent the email. It was discouraging to say the least but I remained vigilant (or rather I didn't feel like cleaning my room yet).

So I typed in his parents' names and found an old race record with his parents and him listed as participants. I googled the name of the race and found out it was in Texas of all places. So I went to white pages and looked up all the people with his dad's first and last name in Texas and it turns out there's only one. I scribbled down the phone number and convinced my mom to call and IT WAS THEM!!! I felt really proud of myself coupled with intense curiosity. Remember I haven't heard from them in five years.

Turns out he's 6'3" playing football as a junior in high school. Who knew! My mom got their e-mail and she's going to send some pictures and hopefully they'll send some back. I can't wait to see what he looks like. I haven't actually seen him in seven years so he's obviously a load different. God must have been on my side because I didn't expect to ever hear from them again.

All to think it started with an old email...

Homemaking

Those who know me know my stance on children. They're great for other people but I definitely don't want them when and or if I get married. I've been steadfast in this belief for a good two years now. But there is a side of me that parhaps if there are such things as past lives I would have been a stay at home mother. The reason I bring this up is because today I was riffling through some websites as I always do and came upon the announcment of Tasha Tudor's death. I didn't realize that I actually knew who she was until I did some research and I'm pretty sure we have one of her award winning books around here. What I didn't know however was about her country lifestyle.

Which got me thinking about some of the old fashion things I really want to learn how to do. On a realated note, I'm praticipating in a local history camp next week. I'm Jemimah Boone. My mother is posing as Rebecca Boone [a childhood hero of hers nevertheless] on the days I can't be there. The two of these things, Tasha Tudor's death and the coming of the history camp, set me off on a web based journey for all things frugal and old fashion.

I came upon some very interesting and useful websites, no matter if you're from the 1700's or a modern woman. Check some of these things out...

Making your own clothes is easier and more fashionable than ever...

Homemaking and other such skills...

Fragality is the new designer brand...

You can always learn something new here...

I'm going to set some goals for this summer and put them up in the sidebar and check them off as I go. Those who would like to join me are welcome.

You see, I thought this college class would take up all my time but I'm pleasantly surprised at all this free time I have. ExNovio was talking about using the week of vacation we have and taking a bunch of people on a road trip. I think he was joking but with him you never know...