Lynchburg Talent Show

All I can say about this New for the day is, ridiculousness. Yep, that pretty much sums it up.

My best friend Audrey is a dancer(not the nasty kind) and she is a part of a group at Liberty. Well they auditioned for the Lynchburg Talent Show and got in! So my New for the day was going to this talent show she was in. I believe it was the first year Lynchburg put on a talent show. This should be interesting.

If you know me at all, you would know I am pretty much late for everything. You might call it a part of my charm, plus being a little bit of a mess all the time, as Audrey so kindly puts it. But anyways, so when I get in the car to head on over, I realize that I need to stop and get cash. My bank along the way had its ATM broken, so I had to go out of the way to get to another bank to get money. Needless to say, I was late as always. I try to change, I really do! It just never seems to work out. But it didn't even matter that I was a little late, because the whole show itself was about 30 minutes late starting. And boy was that a grueling 30 minutes! They had a lot of huge speakers stacked up on either side of the stage and music was blasting! It did not take long to get a headache.

I sat with Audrey's family and a couple other friends of hers. And after about fifteen minutes of sitting there did I realize we were the only white people there. Well. I guess white people are just not as talented. We really need to step it up.

When the show finally started, everything was just so loud! There was a little rap song thing first and it was okay I suppose. Then the host came out in her little prom dress thing. She had been Miss Virginia this past year I believe. She had a co-host as well, they were just okay. The whole thing was just really unorganized. It was more of a get together than an actual show.

A dance group from Liberty performed and they were really good! Probably my favorite aside from Audrey's group of course:) They had a couple of different acts of boys trying to rap and some girls trying to sing. And at one point they wanted people from the audience to come up and do a dance off. Oh my goodness. So three sisters went on stage and one was about 5 years old and the others were about 7 and 10. When they started that music they all went crazy! And I mean crazy! The little shy 5 year old who wouldn’t even hardly speak her name into the microphone got down on all fours and started swinging her head all around! I thought I would die! I think that was my favorite part. And they won the dance off by the way.

But the whole thing just kept dragging out longer and longer until FINALLY Audrey’s group got on stage. They did such a beautiful dance! It didn’t fit into the show at all, they were pretty much the opposite. Very contemporary and ballet. They were the best. Haha and I’m not being biased.

And as soon as they were finished dancing, we booked it out of there. We couldn’t take it anymore. I had a feeling it was probably going to go on for another two hours.

Maybe I’ll try and be in charge of this thing for next year, I could do wonders for them! I’d pull off a great showJ And I’ll make Audrey help me with the organization process. If you would like to come next year you can just send your money to me now and I’ll be sure to reserve your ticket. Thank you!


2 Kings 5:23
And Naaman said, "Be pleased to accept two talents." And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi.

Insane!

First off, I want to begin by letting everyone know that this past week was not a bad week for me so please don't be mad that I have not been faithful to my blog. Thank you!

Anyways my New yesterday was very entertaining and certainly got my mind off things. My friend Danni had called me the other day and asked if I wanted to go to my old high school for a dinner theatre type of deal. "Well I certainly do!" I told her and so after I got off of work I went and picked her up and we were on our way.

I park as close as I can, and we sit in the car a bit because I'm catching her up on my life and she keeps giving me little chocolates to make me feel better and I keep eating them because chocolate always makes you feel better. It's just a fact of life.

It starts to drizzle when we walk in. Now I should have informed you earlier, but better late then never, Danni and I were both big into theatre when we went to Heritage so we always love to go back and see how things are going. She's a year younger then me so she knows more people then me, and she sometimes still gets involved with it, but I don't care, I love seeing my old theatre director. And as soon as we walk in we see Biff, as everyone calls him. He was such an awesome director! Everyone loves him so much. I give him a huge hug, he loves me too:) We make a little small talk and then we walk in.

They had tables set up on the stage where we were supposed to sit and so I pick a table and we have a seat. And Danni ends up knowing the people at our table which was awkward because she really didn't say hi to them right away and so I was just confused. It also wasn't a "dinner" theatre, it was a "dessert and coffee" theatre and each table had a little waitress to bring the things. Well I don't know why, but I got real irritated real fast with this girl. I think it started when she asked me what I wanted to drink and I said I wanted some coffee and water. Well she just told me no. I could not have two things to drink. Excuse me but I not just pay $5 so I could come and drink some coffee and eat dessert. And it was WATER. So dumb. I just kinda stared at her when she told me that. And then Danni chimes in and says "I'll get the water and she'll get the coffee," and she gave me the water. Geez louis. And then they bring a dessert tray by, but it all looked nasty and she said she could run and get me something else real quick, but it was too late. The play stared and all I had was nasty coffee. But it was okay, I was more interested in the plays. They were putting on two one-act plays, and they were both crazy.

The first play, I forget the name, but the whole thing was crazy. Think Sible. You know that older movie with that girl with like 16 different personalities. Freaky. Well this main character Billy was being accused of raping two girls and he has like 23 different personalities. So this whole play we"re seeing all these dofferent personalitioes and trying to figure out what had happened. Well turns out, one of his little quiet personalities, this 19-year old girl was the one that did it. Goll-EE! But in the end they fused all the different personalities together so it was finally just Billy left. Wow. That was difficult.

At intermission I finally got my chocolate pie. It was okay. I guess nothing could really satisfy me that night. And the coffee was just really nasty! I don't know why. Andd our waitress was just so weird, I think something was wrong with her.

The next play was insaine. Literally. It was about the insanity of Mary Gerard. It started out with Mary in this chair being shocked and then all these carzy people came out of no where who were basically figments of her imagination. The whole play they show he how she got there and how her husband addmitted her. They convince her of her insanity and she finally accepts it at the end. "INSANE!" She screams. Intense.

Everyone did a great job, I loved both plays. It's nice to know the theatre department still does well without me, definitely not as good, but still okay:)


1 Samuel 21:13
So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.

A Bedtime Story

I wrote a bedtime story a long time ago in a letter to someone very close, and so I decided that for today's New I would perfect the little story as much as I could and share it. Here goes...

There once lived a cookie that was made all warm and gooey and his name was Chip. Now Chip knew he was a good cookie, his dough’s ingredients perfectly measured, his chocolate chips were the best money could buy, and he was baked to that golden brown perfection. None could compare! And even though he knew how good and perfect he was, he was not happy. He felt that there was something missing.

“Isn’t there something else out there that can make me even better?” he pondered. 

And he knew, deep down in his warm chocolate heart that there must be more out there, something that could make him even better. So he set out on a journey in search of his “something missing”, as he called it.

From his china plate throne, he rolled across the counter to the sink. He came upon a bottle of soup. 

“Are you my something missing?” he asked sweetly.

The bottle of soup turned, looked at him, and blew a bubble in his face.

“Oh!” he exclaimed, “How inconsiderate!” And Chip turned away and continued on his expedition. 

Chip then decided to hop onto the nearby table. He rolled up to a couple of napkins having an argument.

“Look at my pattern work! Clearly I am more appealing to the eye!” exclaimed one napkin.

“Yes, but I am much softer to the touch. It’s all about the feel baby!” the other protested.

“Excused me,” Chip chirped, “I don’t mean to interrupt, but are either of you my something missing?”

They both stopped and stared at him.

“Would you look at this guy?” the first napkin exclaimed, “did you not see us having a conversation?”

“Yes, but…” Chip tried to explain but the other napkin interrupted, “But nothing, you are rude and you need to go.”

So Chip rolled off and away from them, fast. But just before he hopped off the table, he ran into some salt and pepper shakers.

“Wow, look how fun and happy they are!” Chip thought, “they MUST be my something missing.” He was so excited he started to yell, “Hey Salt ‘n Pepper! I’m Chip the cookie! Are you my something missing?”

“No Chip, I’m sorry, but we aren’t” explained the Salt ‘n Pepper, “We are each other’s something missing! We can’t do anything for you.”

Chip got so sad, his chocolate chips were melting and he started to cry.

“Don’t lose hope!” exclaimed the Pepper. “I know you’ll find your something missing somewhere out there!” the Salt agreed.

 But it was no use, Chip was so distraught. And just when he was about to lose all hope, a light shone right on him. He stopped crying.“Where is that coming from?” he thought. So he started to follow it.

It was coming from a huge white box with a door on it that had been left open. It grew colder as he rolled closer and closer until he was right next to it. He peeked around the door.

There she was. He knew instantly. She was in a slender glass bottle and the purest of white. The light caught on her bottle and sparkled. Chip rolled up to the bottle of milk.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Dairy,” she answered smoothly, “what’s yours?”

“Chip,” he said and she nodded. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” said Chip, “You’re my something missing.”

And thus began the greatest relationship known to this world. A love and bond so strong, no one could break, even if they wanted to. They were soul mates, destined to be together forever and ever until the end of time. The milk and the cookie. The end.

 1 Corinthians 13:13
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Goodwill

I love Goodwill. I have always loved Goodwill. Sometimes we go through little rough patches, but for the most part, I just LOVE Goodwill.

I can always seem to find things there, whether shoes or shirt or a knick knack. BUT, you have to be willing to look through things. You have to find the roses underneath the thorns, and that’s where most people are lost. They aren’t willing to look through those rocks and thorns to find the good stuff.

I decided to make Goodwill a part of my new for the day. I became inspired by this girl I met the other day when I was mixing up creamer in my coffee. At first she commenting on liking my sandals and I look up at her and she was wearing this really unique red ethnic looking dress. I told her I really liked her dress and she informed me she found it at a thrift store. "Shut up!" says I, and she goes on to tell me how she likes weird dresses and finding a lot of cool different ones. How interesting!

So none the less I became inspired by the girl and I set out on a quest to Goodwill to find something awesome. Well let me tell you, I have never shopped Goodwill so intensely in my life! I started out in the dresses and found SO MANY. Then I went over to the knick knacks and picked up some records to do a cool little art project with. Then I found a box and an elephant statue thing and then I found this wicked looking silver swirly candle holder that goes on the wall. They where all really great finds!

After I tried on all of the awesome clothes I had picked out, I found about four pairs of shoes! I couldn't believe how great I had done! I found a lot of clothes for the summer time already and for cheap cheap! I got all of my stuff for about fifty dollars, PLUS my sister is going to give me $30 towards it because she wanted to take me somewhere for my birthday to spend some money, so this will be it!

I know Goodwill can be stinky, and yes most of the people that go there are a little bit strange, but you can find some really great stuff! If you're interested in me coaching you on some Do's and Dont's of Goodwill, I'd be more than happy to take you under my wing! I do consider myself a professional. Some examples of what I mean would be, Do grab some stuff that you are iffy about, chances are it will look good on even though it didn't look good on the hanger. Don't buy underwear, sheets, bras or even bathing suits from there, you really never know what those things went through and it’s not worth it. Do try to barter a little bit if you feel like a knick knack you found should be a little less, most of the time they will lower the price a bit for you. Do buy shoes there, I have found some really awesome shoes from thrift stores and sometimes people do have nasty feet, so if you feel the need, just spray the inside of the shoes with something, it won't kill you.

I hope I was helpful in some of my tips! It was really very fun hitting up Goodwill so hard, I was thinking about going to a different thrift store in town tomorrow to see what over treasures I can find. With a little patience and a stiff nose, thrift stores can be very rewarding!


Job 22:21
"Agree with God, and be at peace;thereby good will come to you.

The Whole Wide World

Today was a very much blasé kind of day. I mean it is Monday for goodness sakes. And I definitely did not get the memo that it was "dress" day today. Literally three out of every four girls was wearing a dress today. I felt very underdressed.

I did a couple of ½ new things today. The first thing I did half counts half doesn't. I went to convocation today, which if you don't know is something that Liberty University has that is mandatory for students to go to three times a week in the morning. It's basically like chapel. But since I'm a commuter I don't have to go, so I haven't been to convo in about a year. It's been a long time. Even though they have really great speakers sometimes, I just don't go. But today I actually decided to for some reason. Strange. It wasn't very good either. They had a Republican and a Democrat and they were talking back and forth and saying how they were still friends and they can find common ground. Blah Blah. It made me not want to go back to convo. But it was definitely a new for me!

My second new happened when I was at Barns and Noble with my mom. I went up to get coffee and the girl that was working there has been working there for a long time. I would know because I like going there a lot. And she just always has this attitude like she's mad at something all the time! She always pierces her lips into a thin line and sticks them out a little like she's doing me the biggest favor in the world by making me coffee when she could be doing other things. I was dying to ask her, "What is your problem?! Be happy! You are so ridiculous!" I wasn't going to say all that, but I was going to ask her if there was something wrong because really, she was being ridiculous. But I lost my nerve. I was disappointed in myself.

So when Narns and Boble (as I sometimes like to call it) was just about to close, I saw a bin of maps in the corner. I have always wanted to get a huge world map and put a bunch of pins in it of all the places I've been and all the places I want to go. I picked out a cool looking one and bought it for 8 bucks. Not bad. Then I went to Walmart to get pins to put in it.

I get home and my roommate helps me put it up and it looks really good and we just spend a lot of time looking at all the different countries. I really feel like I'm going to learn a lot just having this hang it my room! I feel like I could stare at it for hours! I did not know that Libya by itself was bigger than France and England combined. It's just blowing my mind! And just how itty bitty Japan is but so many people live there! (even though when I went to look up how many people are living there exactly it said the population has been going down)

This is going to remind me to pray for all the different countries around the world too! Ones I didn't even know existed. Isn't it weird to think that there are people living in areas around the world you didn't even know where there? Craziness.

But anyways, I tried to start putting pins in the map but my walls are really weird and hard like cement so I couldn't do it. I need to get like a cork board or something to put behind it. I'm really excited about it though! I'm going to learn a lot from it just hanging there!

Mark 16:15
And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Jack Jack

I know, I know. I haven't been writing over the weekend. But trust me; I had a LOT going on. My hands were full and the last thing I thought about was my blog. I'm sorry, some things just happen sometimes and I needed a little break, but I'll fill you in on the little "New"s that I did this past weekend.

On Saturday I didn't do anything new. I don't want to lie to you or make anything up. But it was new for me not to do anything new! Shouldn't that count? Well since I'm in charge of this whole thing and I make the rules, I think it should count. So my new for Saturday was not doing anything new. And there you go.

On Sunday, I did do an actual new thing. I was so exhausted from everything that was going on and I teach a kindergarten class on Sunday nights and I was really not up for it at all. I decided that I did not want to work very hard so I brought Jack Jack, my puppy along with me. Then the kids could all play with him for a long time and I wouldn't have to do so much.

Well of course the craziest boy I have in my class is the one kid that's afraid of dogs. How annoying. And his mom was annoying too, I think because she didn't like dogs and that was basically the reason he didn't like them.
She was like, "Um, is he going to be in here the whole time? Because Landon doesn't like dogs."
I just told her not to worry and it was going to be okay. And it really was, he was fine the whole time, he even held his leash for a while.

We went outside and played Duck, Duck, Goose for a while and then we did our story, and played with Jack Jack and then went inside and did snack and craft. While Jack was distracting so they really didn't pay me a whole lot of attention, it was a fun change of pace for the kids. And Jack had a lot of fun too! He fell right asleep when we got in the car.

So if you ever aren't feeling good and you need something to distract people from the fact, just drag a puppy along with you wherever you go. Works like a charm:)

Isaiah 40:30
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall

Phantom

Long day. Too long. I was glad when my New for the day finally came around.

I've been to Phantom of the Opera on Broadway in New York, and it was AMAZING! Well, tonight I got to experience how a high school performed the play.

E.C. Glass always does a great job with plays, mainly because they always have the money and the great auditorium. All the old people of Lynchburg love to help support them and always give them a butt load of money. They also have the advantage of having the Virginia School of the Arts there too, which means dancers.

Now if you didn't know, I went to the rival high school, Heritage. It's just better over there in number one big orange country. Students are all middle class and can all relate to each other. At Glass, you're either super rich or super poor. They have issues.

When it came to theatre at Glass, it was all about competition. They are all hard core! At Heritage, we were always just one big happy family, and we had killer plays as well!

Well anyways, we arrive early to get good seats because their shows always sold out so we knew there would be a lot of people there. We got there at 6:40 and the doors didn't open until 7, so we just stood there waiting in this huge crowd. Oh, by the way, it was me, my mom, my sister Emily and Audrey who went.

When they opened the doors it was a mad rush to get good seats! Emily was in one place and I was in another. We both found seats but mine were better:) It finally started after it felt like an eternity, even though I was in good company.

It was beautiful. The sets were beautiful and their voices were beautiful. Everything ran so smoothly and all of their special effects were great. My favorite effect was when the Phantom has Christine in the boat and he's rowing her, and there was mist that looked like water and they were in this boat that was just flowing across the stage and candle things popped up everywhere! It was just like Broadway.

At one point in the play, during the Masquerade song, my mom whispered in my ear,

"The costumes are all so beautiful!"

"The costumes are so hideous."

Each one of their voices was amazing, I loved Christine's voice and the Phantom's voice was so good too! The main cast had split roles as well so I hope I got the good people! They only thing I would've changed was their acting could have been better. It wasn't bad, it was actually very good, but it wasn't great and I felt like they could've done great.

Anyways, I give this play two thumbs up! We already have our tickets to see Liberty perform it as well so we'll see who does the better job and I'll have seen the Phantom on Broadway and college and high school. What an accomplishment!

Psalm 39:6
“Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be.I wanted to die, it was too funny! And I nodded at her. And then a second later Audrey whispers in my other ear,