You know that feeling you get when you're pulling out of the driveway, heading hundreds of miles away, and you've got this paranoid feeling that somehow, even though the thought of it is absolutely inconceivable, you've forgotten something?

It could be anything. A toothbrush, a pillow, an extra pair of socks, or a book in case you finish the one you're reading on the way.

Of course, NO one would think that if you were driving up to Wyoming, where the high of your trip is 43 degrees and it will be snowing/raining the whole way, you would forget a coat. That's just absurd. Really, what kind of mental person would forget such a necessity?

Well, to put it straight and simple, the Bartell family sure would!

It started when we got to Salina. We got out of the car to get some much-needed munchins and it hit us that our flip flops and shorts just wouldn't cut it. The wind was blowing and it was far too cold for what WE thought was April. Thankfully, good ol' Target was there for us! Even though the winter coats had been taken up, we picked up some hoodies and went on our way.

The next day, it began snowing when we were almost to Cheyanne. It was 27 degrees and our wimpy little hoodies tried their best but failed to provide the warmth to brave the wintry weather. When we reached our destination, the snow hadn't arrived yet, but it was sleeting. We were grateful to be in my grandma's warm house, though. Myriads of distant relatives who claim that I've grown up so much since I was two(really? I hadn't noticed) smothered me with hugs and shoved plate after plate of cookies and trail mix in front of me.

Isn't it awkward when someone asks you, "Oh, don't you remember me?" And you think and think, but you have absolutely no memory of this person. They keep repeating all the times they took care of you and whatnot, and finally you have to give them a "Oh riiight, I remember now!" to satisfy them, even though you have no recollection of your first birthday party and the cute little organic sucker shaped like Shirley Temple's head that they gave you.

I'm just glad I'm home again. The 70 degree rainyness is more than comforting.

I *would* post pictures of the snow, but my camera is just out of reach of my poor lazy fingers. Too bad. They'll be up later :).

Well, I'm off to make dinner. Ta.

Owari.

Random fact of the day:

I'm home.

It's nice.

I ate Enriques to celebrate.

That also was nice.

Owari.

Random fact of the Day:

My jelly bean jar needs to be refilled.

Please note that the amount in the jar in the picture has significantly decreased.

It's tragic.

Owari.

It's Monday again.

*sigh*

But something about this particular Monday sets it apart from all the rest. This day, of all days, is the first and only FIRST rehersal of Fiddler on the Roof. Yes. I made it! :) I'm a villager. A very content one at that. I'm so looking forward to this production...I know it'll be awesome. So if you're in Ponca sometime during the last week of May, get tickets. Seriously.

Today was a bit low key. School was wonderful, just like it always is. And if you ever feel like envying a city for its weather, envy Ponca right now. Go ahead. It's sunny...warm...and beyond every possible definition of lovely.

Ooh, and I'm REALLY happy because....

*drumroll*

And I got my ACT score today! *happy dance* Woooohooo!!! I'm pretty cheery about it. Seems I got a carbon copy of Kaley's score :). Now I won't have to take it again in the summer! Pretty darn spiffy.

Having no other important ramblings to say, I leave you with pictures. I'm really grateful for the simple things in life...

Like knitting.

Crayons

Squiggly lines on the tablecloth at dinner



Sidewalk chalk

Hearts

Shiny things

Doodles of music in the rain

Owari.

Random fact of the day:

I have five followers! Yesss!

That's one half of ten.

And a fifth of twenty-five.

And a twentieth of a hundred.

Check out my mad math skills.

Owari.

Aaah, the excitement! It won't wash off!

Oh my word...it is officially 22 minutes until the cast list is posted for Fiddler on the Roof.

My anxiety is pretty much turned up to max.

Scratch that. It's past max.

Oooh, *21* minutes! Aaack!

I feel like screaming. 20 minutes is a long time...but 21? That's unbearable.

Oh my goodness...it's down to 20...

19....

After a storm, a rainbow always follows

Today, there was quite a bit of excitement. A few days ago(Friday, to be precise), I spent about 3 hours at church recording two songs I had chosen to send in for an audition for a Summer Institute Program at Rice. It took me what seemed like ages to get each song perfect. Numerous times, I had to stop and retry because I had made an obvious mistake or because my fingers felt rebellious and forgot a measure or two. I was pretty worn out by the time I was satisfied with the recording. I went home and attempted to put my recordings onto a CD that I could send to Rice.

As you probably know, my computer skills are pretty much zip compared to my musicalness.

First, when I put in the CD with ALL my recordings(not only the ones I wanted to send in, but also the ones I had made mistakes on), my computer wouldn't accept to copy the audio files and paste them into a separate file to be burned to CD. It would shut down if I tried to do so. After three quarters of an hour, my patience with the pathetic device dissolved and I switched compies.

My next attempt was slightly more successful, except I had to find a blank CD-R. Hah. Who'da thunk we would need that? I dug through every disc we had looking for one that didn't have writing of some sort on it. Finally, I was able to burn the disc.

Unfortunately, it wouldn't play on my cd player.

One more try and then I finally had it. My audition cd was complete. I filled out my application(actually, I had to fill it out twice since I mispelled "Scherzo" with a pen) and headed to UPS with my mama.

After a few more struggles which I won't describe, we sent it off, only to wait until it got there.

We checked up on the package every day. The deadline to have it in was April 15. When we checked it yesterday and it still hadn't arrived, I was despairing that it had somehow gotten lost among the myriads of packages that UPS ships.

Of course we checked it this morning...but something was wrong. It had arrived to its destination, but it couldn't fit in the dang post office box. It was a fairly small box. The size of a CD case(heh...obviously).

My mom and I desperately sent an email to the lady who organizes this institute thing explaining what had happened and whether or not she recieved the notice that something wasn't fitting in her box.

And then we waited.

And waited.

Finally, my mom's inbox flickered with a new message. The lady recieved the notice and the CD was safely in her office.

God is so good :).

When life's a storm, remember to watch for the rainbow that follows and be thankful to He who gave it to us.

Have a lovely day, my friends!

Owari.

Random thought(s) of the day:

Pineapples are very fickle fruits.

Also, they are very tasty.

Owari.

You know, water's a incomprehensibly vast subject. I mean, it does cover quite a large percentage of our planet. Not to mention that some of the water isn't even in the large percentage covering our planet. Some is in pipes for household purposes, some in pools, and even more in the clouds hovering in our atmosphere.
It's hurts my poor brain lobes to think about all the water that exists. It's even more painful to think that all the water that exists now has been existing for as long as the planet has.


I don't normally think about where my water was before it was in my glass. In fact, I really don't want to think about it.

Really, you can think about this too hard.

Anybody up for a subject change? I know I am.

I'm so glad to have friends who can dance. The mere mention of dancing puts a smile on my face. I've decided that when I move, I'm going to teach all my friends how to dance, be they willing or unwilling. There will be no mercy. And when all my Ponca people come visit(*hint* *hint*), THEY can join the fray! Really, when it's so much fun, can anyone resist the awesomeness? I think not.

Ok, I'm out of creativity. Happy Good Friday!

Oyasuminasai!