*C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S**L*I*S*T*

Hi Alyssa,
You recently made a Christmas list, so I thought I would do the same thing... Just in case a certain someone named "my-mom" reads this. =D

1.) A Truly Grand Piano:


I know, I know. it's on my wish-list though... and I don't necessarily want THIS piano, but it's kind of cool looking, is it not?
I went piano shopping with my friend and her mother, and we gave her mom concerts :)
It made me really want a new piano, a grand piano. Sigh** if only.

2.) Classical Piano Books ^-^


I don't need all of them, it would be totally awesome if I got just one!
I love playing classical music, right now I'm learning Golliwog's Cakewalk by Debussy. it is so fun and fast!
I felt a little discouraged, however, when I saw this video on YouTube of this 5 year old girl playing it. It is the most difficult song I've played, and her hands were moving so fast they were blurring! :O!

3.) Sadly, another wish*
Hair Straightener!
And here is the free gift that i would receive if you bought it from Sally's Beauty Salon :)It's a cute MINI hair dryer! This isn't it, but it was the same color :)

4.) Augh! Another Wish!
Woo! A Wii Fit! I love it.

5.) YES!! SOMETHING I COULD GET!! =D

I really like the All American Rejects, despite my brother's hatred. They just came out with a new CD and I have their other 2, so I really want an actual copy, not just itunes. And considering it's cheap, i think it's safe to say Yay! I want this!

6.) My Last Christmas Wish
(((I know this sounds incredibly cheesy, just humor me!)))
I want to see the looks on my family's and friends' faces when they open their presents :D
I absolutely LOVE giving presents to people. I think that ever since I have gotten allowance I have been getting presents for people, and even before that little hand-made coupons, have been for my family. it is my all-time favorite Christmas joy. :)
The only problem this year is lack of money, and over-abundance of friends!
I feel bad, but I've had to shorten my list of friends to get presents for. I've narrowed it down to the people i care about most and talk to the most. For the friends that I see at school and are good pals, but not the best but i still love, I've gotten candy for them :) and then for friends that I LOVE LOVE LOVE and see like everyday and love hanging out with them... they get presents.:D and of course my family gets as many presents as possible. I couldn't care less if my friends gave me anything in return! I'm not trying to be cheesy when I say the smile they get when they open up their gift is the gift for me!
I'm going to go take pics of my best buds presents and come back later to post. :)
Yay now I'm all happy =D
I love you guys!!!!! Bye!!

Thixteen Fact'ths

Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 16 random things, facts, habits or goals about you. At the end choose 16 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you.

1. I love quotes (if you ever happen to hear crocodile eggs calling out to you, your not imagining things ;] =me and GRACE)
2. I love inside jokes and have one with almost everyone I know
3. I love everybody and everything except insects, no joke.
4. I am quiet unless I'm super comfortable around you :)
5. I hate it when people don't trust me, they have no reason not to trust me.
6. I know exactly what I want to do with my life
7. I like going to school
8. I like dancing... in my room.
9. I can't function with more than 7 hours of sleep
10. I love to sing/act/write/art
11. I love doing service and helping people out :))
12. I love experiences, the good and the bad
13. I have a second degree black belt in taekwondo
14. I have never tasted cottage cheese and I do not intend to
15. I used to want to be a dog when i was little :)
16. I like listening to people, and don't really like it when I have to talk, but I pretend to love it if I have to. i'm wierd.

PEOPLE:
1. Lydia-You are my non-churchish church friend and my sexy apple ;) and without you I would have died.
2. Grace-We both love medicinenet.com!!
3. Jessie-You were my sister for like a whole summer!
4. Hannah-You make me feel smart :) lol
5. Kayla-"You're amayzing kayla quin!"
6. Alyssa-Your my blog-buddy/fav cousin!! Love You!
7. Kate-you were my fellow homeschool student :)
8. Josh-Bleh. lol you wouldn't be able to get to EAST without me
9. Cailyn-You're my sister, Cailyn Mellor!
10. Omar=You're my bro!
11. Victoria-I miss fast friday lunches with you
12. Lisa-We Killed with Kamas! Man I miss taekwondo weapons :)
13. Cameron-We're bilarious buddies!
14. Kaylee-You, my friend, are buddhalicious ;)
15. Christian-We went on a cruise! :)
16. Jacey-Without you I would be left alone with Josh and Billy :-/(that would be scary

Forgiveness and Empathy

Hi Guys!!!!!!
I missed blogging to you!
Please forgive me for not writing, I've been very neglectful and I apologize profusely.
Gosh there is so much stuff I don't even know where to begin telling you about it all. I wish I could just sit here and tell you everything but, unfortunately I don't have enough time.
So let me start out by once again apologizing. I shouldn't have left you all for so long. :(
I actually would really appreciate some help. :)
I have to write this end of semester paper for English class, and let's just say that if it's not completely mind-blowing and spectacular... My grade will go down to rock bottom. it's seriously that important.
I'll write what he asks of us:
Compare and Contrast how authors/directors attempt to manipulate the reader's emotions in order to tell "the story" in a 5 page typed essay by using the following as evidence:
Huck Finn and/or
to kill a mockingbird and/or
the great debaters movie and/or
I know why the caged bird sings and/or
the poem "Sympathy"-Dunbar

Now, our class has read all the books and watched the movies and read the poem mentioned above.
And what we've been talking about to connect them all (Mr. Stewart is all about connections) is with Empathy.
I would REALLY appreciate all of your opinions on empathy and how that can be a manipulative tool.
Also... If any of you have seen/read any of these, I would also appreciate your input on your favorite part, or what you think is the most meaningful part.

I hope you don't think I'm cheating, :) but Mr. Stewart said we could use any resources we wanted and so I choose any of you who have input.
THANKYOU!!!