Post Groundhog Day

A week ago, the groundhog saw his shadow, which traditionally speaking, means 6 more weeks of winter. I tried to explain how groundhog day works to some of my friends, but they didn't really get it. If he sees his shadow, which he's afraid of, he goes back into his hole for another 6 weeks. If it's cloudy, it means an early spring. Well, January was uncaractaristically warm this year, (though my dad says people say that every January in Victoria, which based on the past few years is true) and we had a beautiful first week of February, but today it rained. That doesn't mean anything though. It rains a lot here all year. It's hard to believe it's February already. The semester's barely started and I've got so much to do this spring that I just know I'll blink and it'll be over just like that. Every year older I get goes faster. Our school musical opens in 2 weeks and we are now in major, scrambling, cramming, panic, stress mode. But we'll pull it off, just like we do every year. Well, last year I did concession, but this year I'm actually part of the show, living my high school dream of being in the pit band. The music's really hard though!! It wasn't written for our level of playing I don't think. It's great practice to be pushed that hard though. And like most other things in life, it's not that hard after you work with it a bit. It really makes things easier once you figure that out.

Reflections

It's been almost two weeks since I last blogged. I've been busy with school, but I wrote my last exam today, so I figured it was time to reopen this blog and empty my brain of thought. I'll start with science, my today's exam. It wasn't just a science exam, it was a PROVINCIAL science exam; my first. This was going to be the year I got an A on every exam. It was going to be the year I rose to the top of the grade curve, it was my plan from the very beginning. But of course, being me, it was much easier to slack a little and take the average mid to low B. But I knew I'd bring my mark up on this exam. I had confidence. We had to write it on line. This morning when we were all standing around the computer lab to go in I said to one of my friends "I'm scared!" which at the time was kind of true. Well, my science teacher was right there and heard me say it and said "Don't be scared, you'll be fine." God, I wanted that A!!! Well when I walked out of there 2 and a half hours later I was 85% sure I'd bombed it. There were so many questions where I didn't have a clue. I was thinking, "I want an A, but I'll be lucky if I can get a B!!" The thing is though, is I didn't cry, or panic or in general, freak out which is what I generally do when I think I bomb on tests. I know I'll pass, and even if I get a C+, it won't ruin my life, it's still only grade 10, it's one class and I've still got a whole other semester to bring my GPA back up. It's now been a whole year since I first started grade 9 science (semester 2 to semester 1) and oh, the changes I've gone through. I've grown. I've grown up and I've matured and I think it shows. I'm making an effort, or trying to anyway and I think people are noticing. So science isn't my forte, and okay, math isn't either, but other things are, and I've found life to be a lot more enjoyable when I focus on the positive rather then the negative. That's over and done with and it's time to move on. It's funny, I usually feel a lot sadder at the end of the semester, but this time it just felt like the most natural thing in the world to have all my classes end halfway through the year and to know I'll get knew ones on Monday. It just felt like the right time for it to end. I could just feel that it was time. I think that's another sign I'm growing up. I know there'll be more in the future, and I can't wait for them to come. The world will never stop spinning, even when I'm old and gone. No matter what happens, no matter what we lose or how many mistakes we make or how many tests we bomb. No matter how bad we feel, eventually we always have to move on, no matter how long it takes. It's something we so often forget. Ten year from now, the little disasters of today won't matter. And for the most part, it won't fix anything to worry over them now. I trying to live by that from now on. I wonder how much better the world would be if everyone else did too?

January Sunshine

I've been taking a blogging break. But I'm back now to reflect on a slight miracle: a beautiful afternoon of January sunshine after a week of dark, dismal rain. It's been raining (and flooding) all over the southwest coast of BC almost all winter, which as everyone knows could pose a huge problem to the coming winter olympics. Here's hoping it holds off for them. Last weekend the 7 day forcast called for at least a week of rain, but this afternoon it cleared up a bit and by the end of the day I was able to walk home with beautiful sunshine pouring over the drenched city. It was certainly a much appreciated break here for us. I've been busy planning for exams and wrapping up the semester, and we've got extra pit band rehersals as the musical approaches. I can feel the stress level of our teachers ever slowly rising, but I know we'll pull it off and it will be amazing. It always is and everybody knows it.

I have spent the past week considering where I stand in life. My friends, my grades, all that I can achieve in my life and the busy spring I'm about to step into. (More on that later) Last night was an open house at school for grade 8's to pick a high school for next year. I couldn't believe how many showed up!!! I was there as a guide. Every time there's an orientation I try to be there to help out. It gives me a great sense of accomplishment (and superiority) to look at them and remember where I was, not all that long ago, and then look at how far I've come and where I am now.

And of course, everybody knows about the tragic earthquake that hit Haiti this week. My school along with the rest of the country has jumped onto the helping wagon. Bake sales and donations jars have been organized for the coming week to raise money towards helping out in any way we can. I'll be sure to put some money in the jar on Monday. If my 5 dollars can help heal the sick or feed the hungry, I'll gladly give it. We often forget how fortunate we are here. Winters here tend to be long and dreary, but on the sunny days, I can stop and reflect on everything I have and for that I am grateful. Grateful for sunshine. It is so beautiful.

School... continued

It's almost as if we were never gone! There's less then 3 weeks left in the semester and everyone's scraping to finish in time. I have to start/finish one last sewing project. Not to mention exams!!! For science I have to write my first ever PROVINCIAL exam!! It's on the 29th, the last day of exam week as well as the last exam of the day. But it'll be fine. I just have to keep reminding myself to breathe and everything will work out great, just like it always does in the end. I'm kind of worried about socials. I mean, I absolutely love Canadian history, everyone who knows me knows it's my insane, thriving passion (next to writing of course) but my notes aren't really organized very well and we missed some stuff around the middle of the semester. And science, well that's not my strong suit. I'm going to study my brains out for the next few weeks if I want to do well enough to move my grade from a low B to a high(ish) A. Then there's all the other stuff that keeps popping up that we have to have done in the next three weeks.
Aaaauuurrrrgggghhhh!!! Who do they think I am? Wonderwoman?? (I meant that jokingly. Remember what I said about ''it'll all be fine'') Well speaking of all that I'd better get to it. One good thing about today though: It stopped raining!!! Yay!! It absolutely downpoured all of yesterday and most of today. They don't call it the "Wet Coast" for nothing!

Home Again

Fifteen hours after I woke up in Kitimat this morning I'm sitting here in my own house writing this. It was a very long day; A forty minute drive from Kitimat to the airport at 8:30 this morning, then an hour waiting for the flight to leave and an hour and a half long flight to Vancouver which got in around noon. We landed in the rain which is always a sure sign we've returned to the southwest coast. We couldn't get a direct flight home so we had to wait almost 2 hours for the PCL bus to come and then it was close to another hour through Richmond and Tsawwassen and out to the ferry. We caught the 3pm so we were in Victoria a little before five. We stayed on the bus and got off near our house and walked home dragging our suitcases behind us. Fortunately there wasn't frozen slush on the ground like last year. After we dropped off our stuff we had to drive out and pick up our dog from my dad who'd been fostering him for the holidays, and we got groceries on the way. I had cereal for dinner (I miss my aunt's cooking!)
and now I'm here. Tomorrow I'll unpack, do laundry, move the pile of stuff off my desk (or not?) and attempt to organize my room a little and finish my homework. Then it's back to school on Monday. Thus the cycle continues. It'll be screaming busy from now until summer I know, and I can't wait to get going on it!! You'll probably notice I have been and will be saying that a lot lately, but it's just such an exciting prospect for me!! Pardon the repetitiveness should it arise.

2010 New Years Resolutions

1. This year I will publish some form of my writing. Be it a story, book, whatever, it will get published this year. I will also deticate at least 20 minutes to writing at least 4 days a week.

2. I will work very hard and get strait A's this year. I will also work on overcoming procrastination and attempt to become better motivated.

3. I will work on starting/completing certain projects that I have been creating in my head for a long time.

4. I will swim at least 20 lengths a week (or more) every week until my first aid courses start in March.

5. I will find friends or family members who will hold me to my resolutions so they actually happen.


2010 will be a good year. I know this on the first day of the year. I can't wait to jump into the next 364.