Dedication to Ms.Pollock, our 8th grade comm teacher

For being a Spanish teacher
For being an English teacher
For putting up with us for two years
For seeing the best in us when we don't

For being a basketball coach
For keeping us motivated
For helping us push forth
when we want to give up

For being there when life is rough
and we need someone to ask if we're okay
For always knowing what to say
For always wanting to help

We're moving onto high school,
onto a new life,
you seem like one of us
but it's time to say goodbye.

Thank you Ms.P,
For everything you've done
Thank you Ms.P
We're finally moving on.

Thank you<3 We'll miss you!! (':

Dear 8th graders

Breath slowly
Take pictures in your mind
Always try new things
You'll never know what you'll find

Don't be stupid,
but take some risks
you'll wish you had
when you look back on the oppurtunities you missed
Study hard,
Party a bit more
find your reason
find your what-for
Keep friends close
dont let them haters get to your mind
Ask God for forgivness
leave all the drama behind

dream big
there is no limit
push til you cant go anymore
put it all in to win it
Stay faithful
cause theres always going to be sin
beauty doesn't come from makeup
it comes from within
Keep it real
no one likes a fake
take all of the chances you get
and always learn from your mistakes

onto high school
may be scary may be exciting
be as fearless as possible
life is very inviting

motivate yourself
find your inspiration
never give up
put first your education

never forget who helped you through
you'll be influenced so don't foget who you are
remember what they say,
"If you dream big, you'll go far"

WNB #19

3 friends

3 different lives

3 different stories

3 different lies

3 girls

3 different needs

3 different wants

3 different pleads

3 different songs

all of a different tune

3 different worlds

under one moon

A Story In 6 Simple Words

I read a book last week written by different and random teenagers throughout America.  Each teen tells a story with 6 words.  For example, you may or may not have heard a 6 word story written by Ernest Hemingway called Baby Shoes.  It goes like this, For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn.  In this 6 word story his wife had an abortion.  He didn't come right out and say it, but that's the fun of it. 
But anywayy! So this book was full of 6 word stories written by teenagers.  The book isn't long, it took me like 20 min to read, but it's defiantly worth reading!  It's called I Can't Keep My Own Secrets.

This book inspired me to write some of my own 6 worded stories, along with a few of my friends.  Here are some I wrote, and some from the book that are my favorites:
Dreams too big for this town. -Megan M.
Live in Canada. Not as igloo. -Mackenna C.
Three high school. Only uniforms changed.- Keerthana J.
The keys I have don't fit. -Alicia K.
Iraq doesn't need you. I do. -Alicia Marie S.
Got expelled.  Felt like living again. -Alexis G.
5am. Basketball. Babysit. Volleyball. Ride. Repeat. -Me
Follow your dreams. Not your parents. -Srishti K.
Googled what he called me. Ouch. -Emily L
Said you're sorry, I didn't believe. -Me
YOLO= month gone and still grounded. -Me
Met online; love before first sight. -Chris S.
Honor roll. No friends. "Bright future." -Anne Q.
He holds grudges, she forgives easy. -Me
God has him.  I miss him. -Ashley L.
hair's pink to piss you off. -Stephanie N.
Writes daily. Letters won't reach him. -Me
Tried being reasonable.  Now I'll rebel. -Amanda L.
Swerved off road, but kept driving. -Khalil M.
Only born because older sister died. -Lyra W.
The exits were entrances in disguise. -Shannon b.
I need out of Wisconsin, NOW. -Me
Never met him, but love him. -Grace K.
Laughed at abusers funeral.  Feel guilty. -Ashley P.
You're gone, and I'm still praying. -Jose D.
Met him once, changed me forever. -Juliah D.
Everthings done for that college application. -Elizabeth C.
Thank God I'm an atheist. -Chelsea C.
My mom had my boyfriend deported. -Candra T.
Parents don't approve, I need you. -Me
Guitar string snapped. I kept playing. -?
In the nest, twigs are sharp. -Justin M.
We are banned from Wal-Mart forever. -Kristen S.
We're the family you gossip about. -Steven M.
I lied so you wouldn't worry. -Jordan S.
I'm here because of the scholarship. -Anna M.
Returned home, remembered why I left. -Kendra L.
Too young t o decide for forever. -Kathleen W.
Small town girl, big city dreams. -Sara A.
You wanted me aborted. How sad. -Thaise B.
He's 20, twice jailed, and perfect. -Jasmin M.
I told him everything, big mistake. -?
He proposed. I'm 14. He's 17. -Briana R.
Life of faith, world of sin. -Sarah M.
Stole sign warning not to steal. -Jill D.
Marines are stealing you from me. -Jasmine A.
I wish "Sir" was "dad" instead. -Sarah B.
I'm army boots. Ready for battle. -Amanda L.
Mom just revoked my creative license. -Nur A.
When I jump, no one catches. -Brionna L.
Stillborn baby lost, I found God. -Lydia S.
Friend. Boyfriend. Ex-Boyfriend. Friend. Friend's boyfriend. -Maura M.
One egg. Two girls. Best friends. -Bethany D.

That's all I have for you but feel free to comment with your own 6 worded stories!

Get off of Facebook, Put Down the Controller, Get off this Blog Because..

These are the days you'll look by on as an adult and wish you had back.

Remember that everyday.

Don't be stupid

but also don't be afraid to take risks and be rebellious sometimes.

Make each day worth living.

Make it worth looking back on.

Research Reports

I read about 5-9 reports this last week and a half and I've learned a lot of interesting facts!  Facts from bananas, to gangs, to baseball players in countries that speak Spanish. 

I was surprised that pinatas were actually made first in China, not Mexico!  But still today we see pinatas as a Mexican tradition. Weird, huh?

In my perspective and out of the reports I read, I'd choose Alyssa Nielsen's and Jason Aune's reports as my favorite and best written.  Alyssa had a lot of interesting facts about bananas and Jason seemed to flow his words together in his paper about a baseball player.  He seemed to write his report like he was there and like he really enjoyed writing the paper.

It was very surprising to me how much bananas are produced and needed to feed the U.S. in one year, I can't exactly remember the number but it was way more than I'd guess!  It's also surprising how much vitamins and good nutrition bananas have for you body, I've started eating more since I've read the paper!

The Little Things In Life...(not in order due to greatness)(wrote this summer..)

1) Waking up to a great song
2) texting all night
3) getting a new notebook
4) his eyes <3
5) photo booths
6) the smell of hollister
7) reading a good quote
10) that first kiss
11) Acing a test
12) that feeling after brushing your teeth (shout out to Hannah Addyman)
13) the moment when the chiropractor cracks your neck and you honestly think for a second that you've died
14) the first day in spring that you can rock flip flops
15) drinking root beer from a glass bottle
16) feeling cocky
17) that moment on a roller coaster when you're suddenly weightless
18) those days when you know you look hot
19) getting a letter
20) having a great tan
21) coloring/writing in crayon
22) going through your locker at the end of the year and finding a bunch of thing you though you lost
23) when you beat a guy in a sport
24) the feeling of freshly shaved legs
25) laughing so hard your stomach hurts
26) singing when no one is around
27) writing in sharpie
28) drinking hot chocolate on a cold day
29) getting a back massage
30) freshly painted nails
31) the expression on ones face when you scare the crap outta them (shout out to Lauren Zupfer)
32) wearing new socks
33) that laugh that lil wayne does in all of his songs
34) dreaming of him <3
35) falling asleep in the sun
36) the first night you sleep with the stuffed animal he gave you
37) the smell of his cologne <3
38) finishing a good book
39) when a really hot guy accepts your friend request
40) getting your hair brushed
41) the sound of him breathing <3
42) when you realize you wont be able to finish your large blizzard
43) getting your hair curled
44) long hot showers
45) the look on the teachers face when someone gets in trouble and they ask in an angry tone if they want to go to the office/go in the hall, and the students replies with "yeah"
46) lighting a match
47) watching stupid yet extremely funny youtube videos
48) walking into an air condition building when it's like 107 degrees outside
49) eating out of the gal. of ice cream with a spoon
50) wearing sweats and still feeling awesome
51) running barefoot
52) catching a fish (especially me since I have very bad luck with fishing!)
53) opening the jammed window on the bus after all the guys tried and failed
54) laughing after crying
55) when you notice someone spelt "awsome" wrong on there facebook account while trying to be cocky
56) 11:11's
57) going through your old elementary school projects
58) drawing a perfect heart
59) cranking the music up in the car when you parent(s) get out of the car to do/grab something
60) coming home after a long day of shopping and looking at all the clothes you bought
61) falling asleep in the middle of a movie that you've seen at least 50 times
62) drawing a perfect circle
63) waking up a minute before your alarm
64) hearing your favorite song on the radio
65) letting your hair down after it's been up all day
66) taking a good picture of yourself after trying for 10 minutes
67) wearing a new perfume
68) reading a good poem
69) finding out he has liked you too
70) finding money in the pocket of your pants
71) listening to a song that relates exactly to your situation
72) falling asleep while listening to your ipod
73) hearing him say "it'll be alright"
74) taking a cold shower on a hot day
75) taking a cold shower on a hot day
76) wearing new jeans
77) when it's finally close enough to your birthday to count down the days
78) wearing an over sized sweatshirt (wearing his sweatshirt)
79) making up a really good quote
80) telling your best friend your biggest secret
81) taking pictures in black and white
82) watching your friend realize that the bottle of ranch dressing is NOT a squeeze top
83) flipping your math work sheet to see it's not double sided
84) receiving a love letter
85) being the first to know of a great song
86) shopping at walmart
87) buying a shirt with a cocky saying printed on it
88) wearing that shirt^
89) That awkward moment when you fall in the shower and you hope no one heard you (shout out to Hannah Addyman)

...i would have waaayy more but I haven't updated this list since about mid august! I hope you liked the ones I had though (:  and cutos to those you actually read the whole thing, I know there isn't many of you!

Spanish Blog for Comm.

Hola amigos!  Es veinteiocho de marzo dos mil doce!  Estoy usando una camisa rojo, y los pantalones son de color negro! 

Como estas?  Estoy asi asi, tengo un resfriado. /:

Bluegrass State of Mind

I finished this book on my way to Florida.  I actually found this book by searching through free books on itunes!  I read the first page or so and decided to sync it.

The story takes place in Kentucky, where the main character Mckenna ran away to after a dangerous situation in New York.  After moving to Kentucky, she reintroduced herself to people she hadn't seen since she was 12 when her grandmother brought her there.

She bumped into her first kiss at a horse auction and fell in love again.  She found a place to stay and the whole town accepted her besides her new loves 'ex' wife.

All of the drama comes out when all of the people and things she ran away from starts to catch up with her.  People she thought she could trust she suddenly can't anymore, and she's not sure if she can trust the ones she can.

It ends sweetly but with some very close calls and very frightening stories!
I recommend the book, and it's a very good book that you can surprisingly find free on itunes!

Tonight We Are Young

Madison this weekend was amazing!  We went to Madison for the girls state basketball and saw great basketball and I really learned a lot from the players and there techniques.  All of us girls (our 8th grade girls basketball team, minus Grace) had our own hotel room.  There was 2 double beds, a pull out couch, and a queen bed in a separate room and bathroom that Hannah Addyman and I took at the first chance.  The parents stayed in another consisting of the same rooms and beds.  I have to say our room was littered with clothes, food, wrappers, towels, and makeup everywhere, but we really bonded and had fun all together.  We all have many stories to tell, here's a few that we'll never forget!

I rode with Hannah Addyman and lets just say we can make the best car fort ever.  We slept most of the time, but the few times we were awake we laughed and joked around, while her dad sang almost every song on the radio and Kathy laughed. :)

When we arrived Friday we went to the Kol Center to watch the games, but soon realizing we probably should've done a little more with ourselves, because the boy selection was more than we were expecting (;  We watched our games (and saw and  talked with Ms.P!) and then walked to the capital building where we planked like crazy, took pictures, ran around, and even witnessed a wedding!

Friday night came and we went back and we watched a game (Milwaukee King v.s. Middleton) and Milwaukee was down a few points by half time.  I made a bet with Hannah Alme that Milwaukee was going to win.  The rest of the game I was cheering so loud I lost my voice.  The game was sooo close.   It came down to the last 30 seconds to determine the winner.  The team motivated me, especially the 5ft 2in Freshman point guard starter.  (Shakeela#11) 

Saturday we watched some basketball but mostly walked around.  We went to a piercing and tattoo place and Hannah Addyman got her ears pierces but a few minutes into waiting we realized that the guy getting a tattoo was Rob Wilson, the Badger's point guard.  We got pictures with him and talked a bit.  Saturday night we went to the championship to watch Milwaukee and our whole team made signs for each starter and backup starter, but mostly for #11.  We had 2nd row and we were cheering on the top of our lungs.  They read our posters and they knew we were fans.  The score went back and forth, but by the 4th quarter Milwaukee was down by a few points.  By the last 3 seconds I was in tears as the score was 60-57 De Pere.  Shakeela dribbled it down the court and jump stopped at the three and shot the ball, it circled around and around 3 times until it spun out.  The buzzer went off and she fell to the floor.  I cried more (kinda balled my eyes out a bit, even though the girls looked at me like I was crazy and laughed) and I was determined to get all of their signatures on my shirt.  The trophies came out and they got there 2nd place and we all cheered and held up our signs, but the lady in front of us (who was cheering for the other team and had a mental disability) turned around and hit Megan in the chest!  Even through the embarrassment and shock she cheered along with us, but walked away with a great story to tell.  We ended up leaving before they came out of the locker room, but they still inspired me.  I now am determined to play basketball all through high school and possibly college, even with my height of 5ft 4in.  She brought me closer to the game, they brought me closer to the game.

We came back to the hotel and all we wanted was to sit in the hot tub and relax.  So we all put on our swimming suits and jumped in the hot tub.  The bubbles stopped and Meg was just about to push the button again when I realized something on the bottom of the pool.  It kind of looked like rocks but I asked what it was.  We all tried to figure it out, and Mary scooped out out with her hands.  It looked like a rock, but then Julia noticed there was shreds of toilet paper in the hot tub as well.  So Mary took Alyssa's water bottle and squished the 'rock'.  IT WAS POOP.  Naaastttyy!  The lady came and emptied the hot tub, but we were done swimming for the night!

We're so glad we had the chance to go to Madison and watch the girls basketball, I know we all learned so much and we all hope to go next year!!

Parasailing...

..Parasailing and seeing the ocean checked off my bucket lists, only about 198 to go! (;

florida

Hello blog world.  As some of you may know, I am going to Florida on March 8th, and because of the trip, I've been dieting and working out, to get my hopefully 'four pack' by the time we leave. 
I usually run every night for four days now, I increase a mile each night, which has brought me to four miles.  I also do some ab work out like sit ups, planks, push ups, etc etc.
As for my dieting, I'm a vegan for lent, but also contributes to my diet.  I usually have an orange and peanut butter, or almonds and a smoothie for lunch, and peanut butter bread, veggies, and oatmeal or fruit.  So I think it's going pretty good.
But my parents aren't very fond of the idea of 'vegan.'  We actually have a big argument about every night, even though it's only 3 days into lent.  They say it's very unhealthy, but I feel as if it's helping me stay fit!
I personally like it, but maybe it's not suitable for the rate I'm exercising...
Any ideas or tips.?

Our Basketball Season

With our amazing coach Ms.O and our great athletes this year consisting of Hannah Alme, Hannah Addyman, Grace Holdorf, Hannah Evenson, Hailey Demotts, Julia Olsem, Emily Perrish, Alyssa Nilsen, and myself, also with our awesome managers consisting of Maddie Campell, Brooke Evenson, and Carson Hinzman, we were able to go 12 and 0!  We couldn't of finished our season undefeated without our hard work, Coach O. with her inspiring words and powerful coaching, and all of our parents with their enthusiasm and support. 
Some games were close, but most of our games were a blow out.  We didn't expect that from ourselves, but Ms.O brought our athletes within us that we didn't know existed.  We all poured our heart out in every game we played and in every practice we had. 
Unfortunatly, with our hard work and passion for the sport, 3 of our nine players suffered injuries through out the season.  Hannah Addyman, our starter, tore her ACL and MCL and shattered her meniscus early in the season playing at SCC.  Hannah Evenson was the second to go at a game at New Richmond when she pulled everything from her knee to her ankle, keeping her out for the season as well.  In our last game in Elsworth Emily Perrish sprained her ankle, causing her to sit for the remaining time of the game.  Each one of them were devestated, but Hannah Addyman seemed to be the most.
Last year in traveling basketball, Hannah did the exact same thing to her left knee, and putting her out from the whole school basketball season all together.  She under went surgery last December and will be having the same surgery again on Febuary 28th on her right knee. 
Her passion for basketball is unbelievealbe.  She's dont so much for our team throughout the years, being an amazing athlete and cheering with her positive attitude.  Without her on the court with us, it somehow feels empty, she brings the light into our game.  But even with her sitting on the bench, we all hear her positive advice and cheering and even tearing up watching us play wishing she could be out there with us.
Even with her past two years of sitting on the bench, she'll never give up hope.  I've never seen anyone love basketball like she does.  She'll never give up, it only causes her to fight harder for a quick recovery.  With her hope and faith, we send our prayers out to her.  We love you Hannah.
Basketball to me is more than just a sport, it's something you have to devote yourself to.  Something that really brings out who you are, and when our class of 2016 girls basketball team works as a team, we do amazing things.

MS. P IS MY FAVORITE TEACHER OF ALL TIME, YO. (;