Jazz Running In The Rain

First off we weren't actually jazz running in the rain, the rain had stopped by then, but it did rain! Today was our first home game, not much to talk about there. The usual football game stuff happened; dancing, playing, and of course marching. Of more interest though is the past two weeks of my life. School oh wonderful school, actually its not as bad as that, but its just not any fun to be stuck in school so long each day and then finally when it's over, you hop along to band practice. Then things start to be drawn out. Although I love to read, I have never really enjoyed any of my English classes, but so far (after photography) my English is my favorite class. AP Gov. I can't decide whether I like or not. I thought it would be history, which is second nature to me, unfortunately it is much different, math is well math, and to top it off Chem is probably the worst class I have ever taken, but it is nice to be able to get out of the house and see friends for a change. That's pretty much my entire life right now, school, band, eat, sleep. On a side note because I don't want to write two blog entries, My birthday present geese are doing well. They are about twice the size that they where before, mmmm actually more then that. Gertrude is more bonded to me, and the clear leader of the two. She will come eat food or treats out of my hands without hesitation.  Gwenivere on the other hand loves only Gerdy, and is skiddish and shy. She is very food motivated though, and typically faster (when it comes to food.) They can honk now, although it's a cheap cheap honk hybrid thing, and yesterday they flew for the first time. It wasn't far just over their little baby pool, but still! Thats all for now!

First day of the last

So it's the first day of my senior year of high school (It's everyone else's second day) and I'm sitting here crying. Whoever said high school is the happiest time of your life either never went to high school, or they had a really horrible adulthood. Anyway I seriously don't know how I'm going to cope, I probably shouldn't be saying that as the name of this blog references a yogini, but when Swamiji said to write this blog 3 years ago (almost exactly!) he said to write my experiences, and so that I am doing! I really shouldn't complain, I should just look to the future, I'm graduating a whole year in advance! But when I sat down in my AP Government class this morning, all I was doing was calling my self an idiot, and that was just first period. My schedule isn't pure horror, there are a few little happies in there, my independent study video production class along with my video partner Elizabeth, and a photography class I am really looking forward to. A lot of the rest is just making me cringe in fear today (Chemistry, Pre- Calculus, AP Language and Composition,  and college level Spanish). Then to top it off band practice after school. Now band is something even I don't understand, I'm not really a fan of exercise, and I'm a horrible floutest since I hate to practice, and yet I keep doing marching band. It's not just the friends thing, although if I didn't have those then I would for sure quit, but there's something else holding me back, wanting to finish what I set out to do three, sorta four years ago. I have yet to see this band rise to complete greatness, get a one at states, and if this is the year, I want to be there when it happens.
      In any case my mother doesn't seem to understand, I get her perspective. I get in the car looking half dead and ready to commit murder after practice, but last year she wouldn't let me quit and this year she seems to be encouraging me! What I really need this year is just a solid force behind me, helping me push through, instead of feel as if I have this waving piece of cardboard. If I lean of it at all, then it will fall. It's just rough, who knows maybe this is my Monday, I have been away for a week with dear friends, and now have been thrown into the battle field, commonly known as high school. It's just sitting here my backpack on the floor next to my bed, first day of school homework spilling out of it I just don't know how I am going to do this. More updates on this life of mine soon,

Travel diary day four

Travel diary day four: so sad, it's my final day in San Jose. Although many parts of this trip I cannot say we're perfect today made it all worth it. Today was the large culmination of the conference with a parade and mela. The mela was basically like any festival except all Indian. There where booths, food, rides, music, it was pretty fun. Paz and I ran around spending all our money on Kurta tops and gifts for friends (they were priced well!) in the morning and then after the parade came back and handed out praasad or blessed food, and fliers for the temple. It was super hot out and we where both in half saris, which after wearing most of the day where sweaty and itched like nothing else, but it was fun because people kept telling us how nice we looked, and being modest is good, but sonars compliments! Anyway after feeding at least a hundred people sweets we walked around more, helped deconstruct the Pooja site from that morning and then went to the devotee's house that we stayed at at the beginning of the trip. Ok now that you know about the mela I have to turn back to the highlight, and hard point of the day. I have been in lots of parades. Honestly more then a can count and usually at the mention of the word parade I just want to crawl into a dark hole. But this one was so different. It consisted of all the missions, temples, and groups that participated in the conference. Each had their own float that they had worked on for the past two days. So in our section we had our gorgeous float, which turned out awesome, and then one group of dancers who had some choreographed things ready, a group of kids dressed as different gods, a huge poster for each Nithyananda temple across the US held by two people and then other devotees holding and waving flags. We had all our best Nithyananda dance music blasting out of speakers in the truck. Some very nice people kept giving us water and cocoanut juice. Overall it was just so fun and exactly like India. I was the main videographer for the event although at times I switched out to hold the Ohio Temple banner. I did take a lot of pictures though which I will upload soon. Now just hanging out. My flight leaves at 6:55 am tomorrow, so have to get up super early. So having a relaxing evening. Check back soon! For the sake of having a picture here is the beautiful courtyard of our hotel.

Travel diary day three

Travel Diary Day Three: so guess where I am? you probably can't. I'm sitting in the front of a semi truck, which is parked. The truck is what our float, picture yesterday, is upon. My hands are covered in more glue, paint, and glitter then a kindergartener in art class. But I can't say I didn't have fun. Today has been the strangest of days woke up very late at 7:45 am consequently missing breakfast. Dressed in my favorite half sari and walked to building two of the hotel to attend the conference. The main reason I came is because I am supposed to give a speech about youth and temples. There were four of us youth speakers, I being the youngest. We had been preparing for days constantly practicing and editing our speeches and so today was finally the day. For some strange and unknown reason I was under the impression we would go into a hall give our speeches and spam out. Unfortunately this was not the case. The youth session turned out to be a long stream of group discussions and lectures. Finally two of our four members went and then we broke for lunch. Coming back we finalized the discussion groups and then suddenly they called me up to talk. I froze for a split second. I was supposed to go second, that was the plan! Not first! But I smiled, stood, and went to the front taking the microphone. Before I continue to add to the hopeful entertainment of this blog, I have never used a mic before. So the entire speech I was hoping that I wasn't to breathy, or quiet, or so fourth. Anyway I started my speech and fantastically didnt leave anything out and mess up, or cough, or any of my normal things. Not to say I was perfect, my legs shook the entire time. Now I didn't get to thank or talk to her, and even though I highly doubt she knows about my blog, but I am going to write this anyway. So the entire time I was talking there was this girl in the front row, who was giving me the most encouraging smile. I truly durning my speech for her, she seemed like what I was saying was the most interesting thing in the world, I just wanted to give her a hug. As soon as our Nuthyananda group had finished our speeches we discretely left. Having other things to do. Paz and I hung out in our hotel room for a while, and then we frantically called to help with the float. After a crazy drive to the mela site with one of the younger devotees, which I have to say was some of the most fun I've had so far. We helped out spray painting and glittering for hours. The day cooled and the desert climate dropped temperature we all stood about shivering and running and sitting in the various cars while waiting for things to dry. Around eight some one brought our team a packed dinner and around nine Paz and I begged a devotee for a blanket. Someone else gave us their keys and so from nine till 12 we slept in some persons car. Just to add there was this huge speaker set in the car and so we literally had about a foot and a half to sleep in. So curled up under our blanket and slept until someone coxed us out saying the hotel would be a Bette place so we got in their car, it was a guy we knew, and went to our room and slept soundly till morning in that wonderful big bed.

Day two of travel diary

So it's 6:48. We have arrived and came to stop number one in late morning. At the airport we met up with the team from Seattle, one member of which is my dear friend Paz. We met in the airport the Ohio Team and Seattle Team and devotees from here picked us up. Although for the conference we will be staying in a hotel provided by the conference, but since it doesn't start till tomorrow for tonight we have taken up residence in a devotee's apartment. Since these devotees all younger bramacharinis know of the relationship of teenage girls, we were given our own room in the basement. After walking to the mall (which is just across the mall parking lot from the apartment) and goofing off in bed, bath, and beyond. Then after buying placemats (they pretty and bamboo, and only two bucks) we went home and hung out in our room, which we completely changed around and made beautiful. So then we made good use of my fathers Netflix account and then were hurried into getting ready for the temple. In between these things I practiced my speech. After all the craziness of hurry up! We have to leave! Only Paz and I went to the temple along with her mother. So we sat around then watched Satsang then sat around, then ate, then sat more then feel asleep, then sat. It's now almost eleven their time, meaning two my time. Ahhhh sooooo tired! I have been up since three thirty am!
In any case Finally someone took pity on us and begged us (that is Paz and I) a ride. So then after another few hours (ok fifteen minutes, but it felt like forever) we are finally in the backseat coming home. The two sleeping bags on the floor of a basement room never seemed so inviting.

It's 2:22 pm the next day. I havnt had time to post the blog entry, so I am continuing yesterday's on my iPod notes. Today has been very productive compared to yesterday. After getting up at a decent time after staying up so late Paz and I ate breaky provided by two devotees and got ready for the day. More then anything, so far this trip (after the arrival) seems like a family reunion. Many of the people I met when I stayed in India four years, and Toronto last year, are here. it's so fun to see everyone again, after the morning crazies, Paz, her I brother, two other devotees and i piled into a car and drove to a parking lot. I'm not kidding. From what I have been told at the end of this conference there is a mela, or festival, which includes a parade with floats. There is a competition to see how has the best, and we have gotten serious about in our float is a traditional looking mini temple. Paz and ingot the job of painting as I type this (sitting in the car on a break) my hands are literally covered in multi-colored paint and my toes are completely silver, green, and purple. Here is a picture of what we have so far.



Anyhow we are finally back in our hotel. I took a nap earlier at like eight so now I may manage another few hours, tomorrow is speech day! Ahhhhhh frightening. Ok good night all.

My Travel Diary part 1

The travel journal of me

So was up at 3:36 am. Showered got in car picked up the other person from Ohio going, and went to the airport. It's now 5:43 am and me and her are waiting for our flight. Actually as I type this pre boarding was just called. Ok let me back up, where am I going?
A couple weeks ago i was nominated as a youth speaker for the Hindu Mandir National Conference. Downside I have to give a speech, upside I get to go to San Jose, California nearly a week!
6:10 am. We have boarded the plane. We are riding lSouthwest which has open seating... Which is cool. Ok ready for takeoff, gotta go!
8:13 am been sitting for nearly two hours. How long is this flight again? How wide is the United States. Thankfully Have used SOME of the time wisely. I finished the vocab portion of my summer assignment. Yippee!!! I still have an essay to write though. Not yippee. Despite only getting about four hours of sleep I feel pretty chipper, I did take a nap, but was woken up by the person on my left who had to go to the bathroom... I sorry I realize I am rambling. I will now put my iPod away and perhaps write my essay? I'll think about it. I'll write again soon.
11:35 am here is what I texted my mother earlier. So we are in Los Vegas mcCarren airport. Had einstein bros. beagles for second breakfast, but my bottomless pit of a stumach is still hungry.
So now we are on the plan. I wanted a window seat and yippee there was a free one only four seats from the front. Unfortunatly an older "gentlemen" occupied the isle who was VERY annoyed at my intrusion. As in he put his head in his hands and shook it, then proceeded to glare at me. No heed on my part though I liked that seat. So I am happily sitting here and any second now will be kicked off my iPod, oh yah timing that moment is now. Ok bye!
1:17/10:17 so from now on I will be fighting in pacific time. My iPod automatically changed, and it is my watch. We safely arrived in San Jose, picked up our luggage, and are now waiting for our pickup crew, which have yet to arrive. Although the flight captin said it is only 66 degrees sitting here in the sun leaning against a statue I am quite warm. So far California isn't very impressive, one: I don't see palm trees. Very bothered about that fact. Two there arnt any girls in short shorts, maybe that's just LA? I don't know. In any case we are here.

Tired beyond belief

Band Camp: My body hurts in areas I didn't know had muscles. I have now, not only eaten three meals, slept over night, and spent for then 17 hours there at a time, but now I have also showered, changed, and completely gotten ready for a dance at my high school.
   That's it. all I can write. I'm so tired. Only one day to go.

Suddenly A Senior

Although I have mentioned this... thing... numerous times, I think I have yet to sit down and seriously write about, and now as I wait for two separate videos to load, I think I'll take the time. So Last year I offically decided to become an exachange student. I had been playing with the idea for a while, I do love to travel, then while in a meeting with my guidance counselor she brought up some options for what I could do with my last two years of high school. An exchange  student was one of her choices and I decided there and then to do it. I had almost all my credits, or would by the end of my junior year, all I would have to do it drop some of the harder (and more fun) classes I had been meaning to take, add an online class, and I would be set not only to be an exchange student, but also to graduate highschool a whole year early. I am really not a fan of school, so I completely took the chance.
      Although when I look ahead my future seems fantastic, my current plans are to spend a year on the North Island of New Zealand with a Nithyanandite family. Doing what I have not figured out, but its going to be great. I state that here. Unfortunatly living in the present moment is... to be honest hard. First there's that whole summer class. The "few" summer classes I had to take were NOT a piece of cake. They were hard. The content wasn't hard, but seriously, don't try and cram nine months worth of content into five weeks. It does bad things for a teenager's mental state. Who knows about the coming year, it frustrating to not have been able to sign on for many of the classes my friends did, but who knows maybe it will be good? Finally though the major thing weighing down on my mind, being a senior. I thought it would just be the crazy schedules, and complete lack of time, yeah it's that, and more. Being a band senior is a big deal, there's a dance, a movie, a skit night, and on and on. Now don't get me wrong I LOVE getting to spend time with some of those people. I really both admire and love many of them, and I've never really gotten to spend time with them before. Being the odd one out though is hard. They have they're group, they've always been together, and then there's me who just up and decided to be a senior. So yes, that is hard. It going to be an interesting year, I can tell you that.

People Are Reading This!

Today a friend of mine in band told me when I post the link to my newest blog entry on Facebook she gets excited and immediately reads it. To tell the truth I was shocked, pleased, but shocked. I am aware people are reading this blog, I mean the hit counter grows everyday. This week it was at 793...? I think. That in itself was like "wow! so then I go to traffic sources, and it turns out a lot of people are reading this blog from finding it on Google, from keywords, and from health webpages. Jeez! Now I feel like I have to start writing actually valid information! I mean, all I really write about is band, school, band, horses, and band.
     Unfortunately to finish up this entry it will be no different.  I have been at pre-band camp all week and it has literally consumed my life, my body,  my brain. rhythms fill my head as I try to sleep, parts of my body are sunburned where I didn't know they could be, after continuously rubbing my eyes in pain I looked in the mirror a little while ago and realized my eyelids were sunburned. EYELIDS! How is that even possible? OK I know how, but still. But the band is getting so good, maybe its my imagination, but this band is better then I have ever heard or seen it. Everyday watching our 25 year old brand new band director on his rickity banana yellow podium, and marching around on the asphalt I feel like I'm living in one of those movies where a group is drastically horrible and then this wonderful, maigcal person shows up, and he or she is usually so mean, and does things completely out of the ordinary, and theres always a scene in a thunderstorm and heroic music, but in the end the group becomes amazing, and theres the final speech by the leader, and then they win the goal, and everyone is happy and sings and dances....
    Ok you get my point, but that's how I feel, that we are rising to greatness. And I'm not just observing, and I am so influenced, I'm actually practicing, trying my very hardest (getting my eyelids burned). Ok more later, for now this band geek needs sleep it's 10:00 pm on the first day of August, what am I still doing up!? (that was a rhetorical question, insert sarcastic tone)