Goodbye Greg

So, I am a huge Canadian Idol fan, and this year my favorite was Greg Neufeld, so I was so dissapointed that he got voted off this week.
BOO CANADA

Whopper of an Update

I guess it's time for an update. Where should I begin? Graduation was great, can't believe it has been over a month already! Here is a picture of me and my friends with our dresses/suits.

Right after grad I cut my hair short and put an orange streak in it, and I love it, I had been wanting to cut my hair for a while already and my friends were like, you have to wait till after grad, so I did, but right after it was short. Here are some pics of me with my short hair.

My summer has been awesome. My family went camping over the July long weekend to Clear Lake. It was fun, a little colder than I thought, but fun anyways. I went to Minniapolis July 9-11 with my youth as our grad trip. I had forgotten how small school buses were, and how there are no comfortable positions on a bus, especially for that long of a time. Oh well, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. It was awesome, we went to Mall of America, Valley Fair, and Albertville. Valley Fair was awesome, I'll try and post some pictures soon. I went on the Wild Thing 5 times with my friend Tara, both of us had never been on a roller coaster before this, but we would definatly go again. We have a feeling that Harvest Festival just won't be the same this year. Another new experience was having my first funnel cake, it was delicious.

After Minniapolis I went back to work and started working on my Coaching assignments. I had originally planned to go to the course at the end of August, but it just isn't going to work. I am hoping to have my CanSkate done by September and then finish my Phase 2 by spring when the course is offered again. I have been busy cutting music the last week or so, and love it, I love creating programs in my head as I edit the music, it makes it all worthwhile. Also, after a much needed break from the ice, I am starting again next week. I have been going the last two weeks for mentoring, but will actually start skating next week. I am still in need of a coach, but have decided to not worry about it too much. Whatever is supposed to happen will happen.I am also looking for a new job, a full time job, preferably an office position of some kind, so if you hear of anything let me know. I am still working at Superstore for the time being, and the scary part is I am the highest senority in my department, itsn't that sad, I am 18 and I have made it to the top of the senority list for being their the longest. There is one other girl who has been there longer but is restricted and so she is then bumped down, but still.My summer has been busy with everything but most of all my friends, as it is our last summer before some of us go of to school, we are hanging out all the time, which is awesome! Last saturday we had a fire at my house and decided to go to the park to take some pictures, they turned out really cool, here is a sample of them.

Also, this summer I have joined a baseball team. It's slowpitch and it's alot of fun. I can't hit the ball, but oh well, I guess that's what you get when you haven't played in years. I am getting better and its good exercise. We have a tournament at the end of August so that will be fun.

Jennie and Rachel [my SIL's] are both doing well, the babies are doing well as well. Jennie is due at the end of October, beginning of November. Rachel is due at the end of September. I'm pretty excited, I love babies.

Anyways, I'm off to go edit some more music, I hope your day is going well and I'll try and post more grad pictures as soon as can.

Top 100 Movies

[in no particular order]

1. The Cutting Edge: Going For Gold
2. Step Up
3. Stomp the Yard
4. CARS
5. Over the Hedge
6. Raise Your Voice
7. The Perfect Man
8. Into the Blue
9. Accepted
10. The Perfect Score
11. Stick It
12. What A Girl Wants
13. She's the Man
14. Blue Crush
15. Honey
16. The Pacifier
17. National Treasure
18. Monster-In-Law
19. Carch and Release
20. Ice Princess
21. John Tucker Must Die
22. A Cinderella Story
23. The Notebook
24. The Day After Tomorrow
25. Coach Carter
26. The Prince & Me
27. Never Been Kissed
28. The Holiday
29. Because I Said So...
30. The Last Holiday
31. Taxi
32. The Grinch that Stole Christmas
33. The Core
34. On The Line
35. Jersey Girl
36. Failure To Launch
37. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
38. Meet the Robinsons
39. The Guardian
40. Pirates of the Carribean
41. Princess Diaries 2
42. Extreme Days
43. Crossroads
44. Shrek
45. Robots
46. High School Musical
47. Chasing Liberty
48. New York Minute
49. Hardball
50. The Lake House
51. Save The Last Dance
52. Save The Last Dance 2
53. A Walk To Remember
54. Finding Nemo
55. Final Destination 2
56. 2Ge+her
57. Ever After
58. Runaway Jury
59. The Wedding Planner
60. Sister Act 2
61. Grease
62. Bring It On: All or Nothing
63. Hitch
64. Just My Luck
65. Ice Age
66. The Devil Wears Prada
67. You, Me & Dupree
68. Nanny McPhee
69. Gridiron Gang
70. Take the Lead
71. School of Rock
72. Family Stone
73. Oceans 11
74. Alex & Emma
75. Serendipity
76. Madagascar
77. The Longest Yard
78. Cheaper by the Dozen 1 & 2
79. Yours, Mine & Ours
80. Miss Congeniality 1 & 2
81. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants
82. Beauty Shop
83. Just Friends
84. The Wedding Date
85. A Lot like Love
86. 50 First Dates
87. Shark Tale
88. First Daughter
89. S.W.A.T.
90. Paycheck
91. The Rundown
92. The Lord of the Rings trilogy
93. Sweet Home Alabama
94. Mr. Deeds
95. Maid in Manhatten
96. Stuart Little
97. Speed
98. Music & Lyrics
99. Fast & the Furious
100. Freaky Friday

Busy, Busy, Busy

So, its been awhile since I last blogged and so I decided I would take a few minutes and update all of you on whats been happening. I am finally ready for grad, I picked up my dress today, bought shoes, a purse and a bracelet this afternoon. I bought a necklace with earrings a few weeks ago when I had my dress fitting. I am starting to get really excited for grad, I just wish it was already here.
Exams are almost here, which is getting me a little stressed. I have a 6 hour [4 days] provincial english exam on june 4-7. The worst part is you can't really study because its all just answering questions in depth. My math exam is June 12, and my chemistry exam is June 19. I also have my technical chemistry paper due June 4 and a band concert on June 6. I have two tests next week, and Chemistry test on Thursday and a English test on Wednesday. So, you can see I'm extremely busy with school right now.
On June 16 and 17 I have a theory course for coaching in the city so I'll be one step closer to getting my coaching. This is kind of a bad weekend for me because it will cut back a lot on my studying for my chemistry exam but oh well.
Well thats all for me for now.
God Bless

Good To Be Home...

It has been awhile since I last blogged and it has been a busy week or so. I spent monday sleeping at home, sick, which sucked, tuesday - thursday I was on a band tour in Winnipeg, which was really fun, especially wednesday since I was still sick on tuesday. We went to the Old Spaghetti Factory and the IMAX on Tuesday, and Celebrations on Wednesday night which was so much fun, I want to go back again. On thursday we came home, and I unpacked and repacked.

On Friday morning, I left for the city again for my Level One, Phase One Coaching course, which was better than I expected it to be. My class was really cool, which made it more interesting. I'm really looking forward to being done, but I got a lot of good information this weekend and a ton of helpful tips. Also this weekend I went for my grad dress fitting!!!! It's perfect, I was a little concerned about the color, but it was perfect. There was just a few alterations that need to be done and then I will have it for good. I got my jewellery aswell, so all I need know is my shoes.

Both my brothers [and wives] went for ultrasounds on friday and the babies are doing well, which is a huge blessing.

Anyways, I am going to go to sleep, have a great week.

A little of this...a little of that

So, this past Sunday was the last test day of the season. I tested two dances, the Blues and that wonderful Paso. When I got there I found out that out of 46 tests only 6 had passed. Not a good feeling, the evaluators were really hard, even on the little skaters. So, I took my paso and had to do 3 rounds which is really tireing because its so fast, and then I had to do another round by myself, I could barely breath after, but anyways, it didn't go that well so I was prepared to get a retry, but I didn't get my results until after my second dance. So I went out again, and just kinda did it, I wasn't really thinking that much, and it felt good. So, after I took my skates off, and watched a few more skaters, and then found out that I had passed the Blues, but not the Paso, but that was okay, it wasn't that good anyways, it wasn't a good Paso day for me. So, the plan is to take summer school [skating] and then test it again. I was happy that I passed one, especially considering the pass rate, and the fact that it was my first try at the blues and at the level I'm at, you don't usually pass on your first try, which I have for all my tests this year except the Paso, so I am really happy with my progress this year.
Anyways, I got my confirmation email yesterday about my coaching course next weekend. I can't believe I'm actually going to be a coach with in a year or so, I am so pumped. Next week [Tues - Thurs] is also my school band trip to Winnipeg, yes very exciting. So it will be a long week, and a lot of homework. Just to give you a feel I have a Comp. English test on Monday [before I leave], a 1000 word english essay, a 5ish page Chem Paper due, and possibly a math test. I will be happy when I hand it all in.
I can't believe how nice it is outside, I spent alot of time outside on Saturday, and it was so nice. It was my friend Rey's 16th birthday last Friday, and his party was on Saturday. So me and my friends bought him a car...literally. We gave him a box with a key inside and a note that said, go look outside, and on the driveway was a little remote control car. It was so funny, he loved it so all was good.
Well, that is all for now, hope you are having a great week.
God Bless.

Discouraged

So, I hate coming on here and venting but I just need to say it...so I'm sorry, I don't mean to offend anybody.
So, I had my 18th birthday party last sunday and it was crap. I wasn't even the reason for the party by the end, half the time I was inside because I knew I would burst into tears or scream at somebody if I stayed outside. I hated it, because I felt so selfish, I should just be thankful for what I have. When I was opening presents everyone was talking and nobody even cared what I was doing except for like one person who was sitting beside me, like do you know how worthless you feel when that happens. I just don't know why it is bothering me so much.
This whole week hasn't been much better, I feel okay and then all of a sudden I am blinking back tears, I feel very alone right now, even though I know I'm not. I feel like a failure and it sucks. Like take today for instance, I was at skating practicing with my dance partner and he was explaining something to me and all of a sudden I felt like crying, he wasn't being mean or anything, I don't know what is wrong with me. I feel like just crawling in a hole and staying there forever.
I feel like people expect either extreme greatness or they expect me to fail. I feel torn and confused. I just don't know what to do.
Anyways, I'm sorry for wasting anybodys time who read this, I hope your day is going well.

Stars On Ice

Last night I went to the city to go see Stars On Ice and it was AMAZING!!!! The theme was Double Exposure which was really cool. My favorite numbers were from Jeff Buttle, Miki Ando, Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman, Kurt Browning and Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, but they were all great!!!
In other news, I landed my axel for the first time on Wednesday. This may not be a big thing for you, but this is the fourth year I am working on my axel, so I was extremely pumped when I landed it on Wednesday. I also learned how to do an A-spin on Tuesday, which was cool. An A-spin is where you spin on one foot grab the foot off the ice, and have your head by your knees, its really hard to explain, but yeah.
I had the pleasure of my first exam of the semester this week. Yes already, it's a three part exam and part one was this week. It was a really weird exam too. It was for consumer, and the project was to start a clothing store. It was really weird for a math exam.
Skating is going well, I'm feeling so much better in skating lately which is a huge relief for me because I really was thinking about quitting so it is so much easier to work hard when you want to be at the rink. Test day is in a week tomorrow, I'm not really that nervous, I've been working hard on my dances, and feel confident with them.
That's all for now, I hope you are all having a great day as you read this, and if you aren't, I hope your day gets better.
God Bless

My Tunes From A-Z

Avril Lavigne
All-American Rejects, The
Afters, The
Aly & AJ
Brandon Paris Band
Building 429
Blink 182
Billy Talent
Big Daddy Weave
Bethany Dillon
Barlow Girl
Calling, The
Carrie Underwood
Cascada
Casting Crowns
Chris Daughtry
Chris Rice
Chris Tomlin
Christina Aguilera
Click Five, The
David Crowder Band
Delerious
Downhere
East West
Eleventyseven
Eva Avila
FFH
Frey, The
Faith Hill
Gavin DeGraw
Hawk Nelson
Imogen Heap
Jeremy Camp
Joel Houston
John Waller
Jump5
Katharine McPhee
Katy Fitzgerald
Krystal Meyers
Kutless
Leann Rimes
Lillix
Lifehouse
Lene Marlin
Lost Prophets
Mark Schultz
Martina McBride
Matthew West
Michael Buble
Melissa O'Neil
My Chemical Romance
Natalie Grant
Natasha Bedingfield
Needtobreathe
Nelly Furtado
Newsboys
Nicole Nordeman
Out of Eden
Paul Baloche
Pink
Quietdrive
Rascal Flatts
Relient K
Rihanna
Seventh Day Slumber
Shawn McDonald
Skillet
Sonicflood
Starfield
Sum41
Teddy Gieger
Three Days Grace
Vanessa Carlton
Weezer
Yolanda Adams
Yellowcard

Retail Marketing

So, I've been doing some research for a school project on future careers/colleges/ universities and I actually found something that I am interested in studying; Retail Marketing. I was doing research on the University of Saskatchewan, because thats where I am planning to go to University. The funny thing was that I hadn't even thought about retail marketing until searching the website. I knew I wanted to go into business or design of some sort, and this is kinda both in a sense. For those of you who don't know what retail marketing is, its to familiarize students with the decisions involved in developing sustainable competitive advantage in retailing and the concepts and principles for making those decisions to promote higher sales and profits.
I haven't made any final course decisions, especially since I'm not planning to go to University this fall, but next fall. Anyways, I thought this was kinda cool, because I was kinda in the dark about what I wanted to focus on in University.
Well, thats all for now.
God Bless

Spring Break

So, spring break is this week, so I am enjoying sleeping in, and relaxing before I go back to school only for another three months, can you believe it?
On Friday was my 18th Birthday, and my parents took me out for supper to Boston Pizza, and then I just hung out the rest of the evening. Alot of my friends weren't around on my birthday, so I didn't have a party, not yet anyways. So far I have received some scrapbooking supplies, jewellry, flowers, and stars on ice tickets! Anybody who has any good ideas for what I should do for my 18th birthday party please let me know.
This weekend was pretty laid back, I went to the Morden Ice Show on Saturday night with some of the other skaters. I thought it was really good, their theme was 'Reality On Ice' it was so cute. It was cool to see how other clubs run their ice shows.
Spring School [skating] starts next week, I'm actually looking forward to it. I have a coach which is exciting, and I'm hoping to finally pass my Paso Doble. I also have hopes of landing my axel, my coach has seen my practice it and thinks that she can help me land it, so I'm kinda anxious, I really want to land that jump. I've been working on it for a long time.
I have also decided to take the first coaching course in May, I was kinda leary about missing so much school, but I'm hoping to make some of the work up before I leave, so that its not such a big load of homework when I get back.
I decided to leave part of a song that has really inspired me, with all those who look at my blog.
One Way Jesus - Joel Houston
You are the way, the truth and the light
we live by faith and not by sight for you,
we live it all for you
One Way Jesus
You're the only one that I could live for

News

Update:

Today was test day and I got another retry on my Paso, but I did pass my Starlight, so that was good, my goal was to pass at least one, so I met my goal. The regular season with skating is winding down, only one week left. Then it's Spring School in Morden, which I will be working on my axel, and my Paso.
Carnival went well, I skated my program really well which was awesome, I was pretty nervous and I felt really shaky before I went out on the ice, so for me it was such a high. I had a nice sized cheering section..thanks guys:D I even got flowers and candy form my cheering section!!!The night seemed to go very smoothly, and all my worries about the night disappeared. Although, my chicky Brittany's blade broke which sucked, and so she couldn't skate her program or our last routine. So, Kyla, took her place, take note, she didn't know the steps till that day...and she did wonderfully! You rock Kyla:D
I went grad ring shopping yestersday, and looked at a few, but didn't order one because they haven't gotten the new designs in yet, so I'm waiting for a week or so. I got my grad proofs in the mail last week and am quite pleased with them, not a fan of the cap on my head, but oh well. Grad's coming up [note the ticker], and I'm getting excited, but can't lose focus, I have 3 exams at the end of the semester to get through still, so yeah, once I'm done those I will more be excited.

Things generally are going pretty good, I just have to believe in myself and God and I will be 100% okay.
Anyways, I hope your day or week for the matter is going well as you read this. God Bless
I'm out:D
P.S. Rach - I put the baby ticker up for ya, happy?...lol, now where is my name on your friends list?

Organized Chaos

So, I haven't updated in awhile and I've been trying, but my computer hasn't been letting me unless I sign up for the new blogger, so finally today after a few tries I got it to work. Anyways, you are probably wondering about my title, well thats been my life this last week. On Monday, we had the official dress rehersal for Carnival and it was, lets just say a little hectic, but everything went as planned, kinda, and I feel pretty good about Saturday! Official Dress Rehersal pretty much is pictures, and running through all the programs, so for me and the other pa's and the coaches its a pretty long 3 hours. I think we all changed four times if not more, its going to be crazy Saturday night, but I'm getting excited and nervous already.
Monday after dress rehersal the Starskaters [which is the more advanced skaters, like me] had an hour of ice and so I was running through my Paso [the dance which I feel and injured my right knee on] and I feel again, no not on my knee, but I feel and cut the back of my left leg open. At first I didn't think it was anything, because I couldn't see any blood, and my tights weren't ripped or anything, but it wouldn't stop throbbing, so I went to the dressing room and took on layer of tights off and noticed blood on that pair, so I took of my skates and tights to see that I had a pretty nasty cut on my leg, so luckly I had my snap up pants and snapped them on and went to the lobby where some of the parents were watching and was like, 'I need a nurse' So, they cleaned it and were like, I think you need stitches. So, I called my mom and she took me to the hospital and I got 5 stitches. So, that night it wasn't painful at all, since it was frozen and all, but the next day it hurt to move it. But its doing much better already, I skated yesterday, cautiously, but the doctor said I was good to go for Saturday.
Anyways, I found out the other day the my coaching course is being offered at the beginning of may, which kinda sucks because I have my school band tour the 1-3 and then my course is the 4-6 so I'd miss 4 days of school.
Anyways, thats all for now. Remember to come to the Winkler Arena at 7:00 on Saturday for Carnival!!!

Test Day

So, this afternoon I had a skating test. Their are four main types of skating tests; dance, skills, freeskate, and interpretive. I took a dance test this afternoon, the Paso Doble. midway through warm-up I tripped on my pick and fell flat on my face, really hitting my knee. Everybody kinda gasped when I went down, and asking if I was okay, and I was, but my legs were just shaking, so I got up, and kept practicing, but in the back of my mind thinking about falling again. I was just in alot of pain, but decided to just suck it up and do this. So, when it was my turn, I went to the start with my dance partner and started my dance, and it was going smoothly until we got to the part where I fell and I kinda blanked and missed a step and so I was just going to keep going, but the judge stopped the music, and I got a retry, which is the nice way of saying fail. So anyways, that was my afternoon. Hope you all have a great weekend!

Final Music Choice

So, I decided to go with It's On - Superchic[k]. I choreographed it this morning, so you can all come check it out at our annual skating carnival on March 10. The theme is Dreams and I have a good feeling about the finished product. The little kids are all so cute, I was watching a bunch of groups go through their routines on Friday, and it just makes you smile. Anyways, just thought I would let you know my final decision, and encourage everybody to come to carnival...March 10...don't forget.

Insight

This past week, I have gone through every emotion, and I kept dwelling on the bad times over and over again. Yeah, right now, life is kinda rocky, but I have so much to be thankful for. I have the most amazing friends, who know how to make me laugh and now what to say. Take this past week for example, I got home from work on tuesday, and I had been having a bad week and I went to check my email and my friend had sent me an email telling me how much she cared about me, and I hadn't even told anybody about my week yet, it was clearly God. Anyways, I know that life sometimes sucks, but even though my skating right now is really stressful, and I feel alone, I'm not, because skating is not my entire life, a large part yes, but now my entire life. So, my challenge for myself is to be thankful for the things and the people right in front of me, my friends, my family, and those who are supporting me. So, I guess thanks to them, without you, I wouldn't where I am.

Music Choice

So, Carnival is in three weeks and I haven't made a final decision for music. I was thinking about skating to:
It's On - Superchick

Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice

The Middle - Jimmy Eat World

or something like that, It's my first year to pick my own music, so yeah, anyways if you've got any suggestions, I was kinda leaning towards something more upbeat, but all suggestions are welcome

Skate In Face...Ouch

Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison, the 2007 Canadian Gold Medalists [figure skating] recently competed at Four Continents.
During their side-by-side spins in their long program the got too close and Bryce's skate hit Jessica's face, cutting her face and causing her to fall to the ground. It was awful, I could barely watch it. The amazing thing is that they are planning to compete at the World Championships in Tokyo in March. I saw them in an interview today and she looked like she was doing pretty good, they had the camera from a side angle of her face[the side that didn't get cut], but I saw a little bit, and it didn't look that bad, so thats good. You can watch the accident at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbvR90D5Q1Q They have had such a rough season too, its unbelievable. At the beginning of the season Jess fell out of a lift, causing some knee problems, so they had to withdraw from the grand prix circuit, which is basically just the beginning competitions of the year. Then they competed at Canadians and won. Then they went to Four Continents and this happened. They just can't catch a break. Anyways, thats all for now.

January 2007 Editors Choice Award

So, every now and then I submit poetry to www.poetry.com and this January I won the Editors Choice Award for my poem,
"The Journey"

A Path has been marked

The way things are supposed to be

The feelings you are supposed to feel

I don't understand why this is happening to me

All the things I thought were real

Are being taken and changed into something new

Something different, something fake

All I depended on is taken away

There is a fork in the road

One path is bright and wide, easy to follow

The other has a great reward at the end

But is dark and has many obstacles

Which is the road to take?

What is more important, happiness or effort?

Take the road the leads you to something real

To real happiness and real life

Be strong with the strong winds blow

and the road is hard

Have faith in what is to come

In how the journey will end

If you want to see more of my poems they are on www.poetry.com and just type in my name.

Update

I haven't written on here in awhile so I decided I would quickly before I went to work. Life right now is pretty rough, going through alot of stuff, mainly skating, but other stuff as well. I'm feeling really down alot and starting to take things really personally lately. I've been contemplating taking batism classes and am really confused about what to do. I am just trying to figure out who I am and what it is that I want from life, so it's been a long few months. School is back in swing for second semester, I have a pretty full load, but I think I can handle it. I have consumer math [possibly the easiest class I have ever had], spare, english comp, english trans, and chemsitry.
In other amy news [my attempt at humor...sorry], my brother and his wife [kev and rach] are expecting a baby, so....I'm going to be an auntie. They live in Saskatoon so it's not really registering quite yet. Anyways, they told us the news by sending us flowers and on the card it said to grandma, grandpa and auntie from baby. Its so cute.
So, guess what...I can get marks for blogging. My english trans teacher said he'll give us marks if we have a blog. Can you believe it, I was like sweet...lol.
So, anyways, if you have any advise on what to do about skating or getting baptised, please let me know...hope you are having a good day
GOD BLESS

P.S. Sorry about the fact that my thoughts are kinda ramblish...Its been a long day.