Saturday, March 19, 2016

Playing Catch Up

Oh my goodness, has it been a crazy week. I've been out on a choir trip and now comes the lovely phase of life that follows any trip: playing catch up. So, instead of stretching my brain to come up with any brilliant post, I'm simply going to update you on what's been up :)

And the reason I have ketchup for my picture, is not just to make a pun. I actually got really excited one day when Mom said we were going to play ketchup in school. I was really bummed to find out it was catch up :P Now for the post.




~Life~

Is life ever not crazy? I memorized the alto (lowest female part) of around 15 full harmony songs in two months and performed them all around the states of Kansas and Colorado last week. It was SO fun, but it was also really exhausting. I have no idea how I managed the Washington DC tour two years ago, because this one was a breeze in comparison and we were all wiped out

Anyway, it was very fun because two of my siblings went as did all four of my grandparents and three of my cousins! It's my grandfather's choir and my cousins are in it, so that explains it :) We went to the Air Force Academy, my aunt's church, multiple retirement facilities, Pike's Peak, the Royal Gorge, Garden of the Gods, Focus on the Family, and probably some other places I've forgotten :P It was all very fun and low key, so it really wasn't a big deal that Papa forgot to give me and my sister one of our songs. We just "watermeloned" our way through it. (For some reason if you mouth the word "watermelon" in choir, it's supposed to be very hard to tell that you don't actually know what you're doing) ;) It was a new experience to have absolutely no idea what I was doing in a performance!

Unfortunately, the altitude finally got to me after being blown away at the Royal Gorge. I had already decided I was not going to succumb to peer pressure and cross the bridge because I had done so before. But the theatre was on the other side and I really wanted to see the video about the building of the bridge and the fire that came through. So I crossed despite the 50 mph winds and the slats that you can see through 1,000 feet below. Not my idea of fun. Just to give you an idea:




Needless to say it was really scary and hard to breathe and I felt pretty queasy from the motion once I finally made my way back across. I gave our last concert of the tour a shot that evening, but ended up stepping off after the second song. I threw up in the hall and then twice more once I made it back to the hotel. It didn't phase me that much because that has always been my body's response to anything new or painful. I just felt bad for the nurse who got stuck with my mess, but she was really sweet about it :) Seriously though, there were only two doors in the entire hall. No bathrooms, trash cans, and all outside doors were locked, of course, because they don't want residents drifting. Oh well. It really helped me catch up on rest and make memories!

~Goals~

Hehe. So when I signed up for the 300/4/30 challenge initially, I didn't take into consideration that I was going to be on the road for a week. Unfortunately, I did miss March 15 due to a crazy schedule and then altitude/motion sickness in the evening. And my very prestigious self doesn't even care :P I have forced myself to write every other day, though, and have always exceeded 300 words, averaging more around 4-500. It took me much longer to get my 300 words in on the trip than it should have since I was without a laptop and was writing by hand in a van of crazy teenage girls. But my brain's word generation speed tends to be about on par with my handwriting speed, so it worked out :)



As far as reading goes, I accomplished a whole 300+ page novel on the trip! I was so excited, because I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to read in the car, but my medicine did the trick :) I was so happy, because it's been months since I've felt like I could really sit and read. The book I finished was called Where Treetops Glisten and contained three novels each by a different author about a different sibling during Christmastime of WWII. I thought it was a very nifty idea and had been told to check out Sara Sundin, one of the authors, anyway. I had been wondering how co-authored novels worked, and now I know a little more :)

~~~~~

I hope you had a little more low-key Spring Break than I did! What did you do? Anything that needs to go down in history? How is your 300/4/30 challenge coming? Have you ever survived the Royal Gorge? If you haven't . . . you just have no idea ;) 

I also added a short story to My Writings page (you'll have to skip (or read) all my WIP stuff first). Or you can read all the entries over at Bethany's. She does some really awesome writing challenges :D


24 comments:

  1. Ooh, sounds like fun ! :) I really want to go to Royal Gorge, but I haven't. YET. :P
    AND IT'A PUN YAY WE ALL KNOW I LOVE THESE THINGS! :P

    300/4/30 is going great! I haven't missed a day!! *dancing*
    A new sgort story? *goes to read it* :)

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    1. IT'S SHORT I NEW THAT I PROMISE. :P

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    2. The Royal Gorge is supposed to have some great adrenaline ride things when the wind is not so hyper and it is definitely beautiful.

      Congrats on the challenge! I almost missed last night because I was so busy typing up everything I had to write by hand on my trip. *shudder* It's going to take a lot of editing . . .

      Sgort story, I like that. Almost as much as it'a xD

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    3. oh goodness *headdesk* this is what happens when I try to type on my touchscreen tablet. IT DOESN'T WORK PEOPLE!
      And it's knew not new... XD
      I KNEW that one. :P

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  2. Wow, sounds like you've been busy, Abi!!! That is so neat you went to Pike's Peak and Garden of the Gods. A couple summers ago we went to Garden of the Gods and its...beautiful! :)

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    1. Yeah, Pike's Peak was really neat. We didn't make it all the way to the top due to the wind, but we made it to 12,000 feet and got the really gorgeous view, so I didn't mind.

      What we had time to see of Garden of the Gods was beautiful! It was really too cold to hike around and my brother locked us out of our van that morning, putting us an hour behind schedule, so we didn't get very long :)

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  3. Oh, wow! It sounds like you had a super busy week! And that's so amazing that you got to go to Pike's peak!! We've driven through Colorado, but we've only seen it at a distance. Someday I hope I'll be able to see it close up. :)
    Did ya enjoy "Where Treetops Glisten"? I read it during Christmas and I loved it! It introduced me to Tricia Goyer, who along with Sarah Sundin is one of my many favorite authors. :D
    We did school during Sprig break. ;P Seriously, though. My mom decided that since we were running a little behind we didn't need a break this year. *shrugs* It wasn't so bad. We did do less then normal. ;)

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    1. Yes, Pike's Peak was very neat. They even let us off for a snowball fight break in the middle since we couldn't make it to the top :D

      I loved the book! I liked all of the stories individually, but Sara's story with Pete and Grace was probably my favorite :D It is the only book our libraries have for Sara Sundin, but now I know I definitely like her :)

      Oh lovely. My Mom didn't get much done without her three oldest children around, so she's thinking about a second week off school just so we can get to some organizing and such. I don't have that option, because I really want to have at least one subject finished before I graduate :P But we need to catch up on some work, too, so . . . yeah. Have to love breaks that only get you further behind. You're right, though. School's really not that big of a deal. Which is why I really just want to press on and conquer it. But all my siblings who aren't quite so close aren't quite as motivated :D

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    2. Yay! That was my favorite story in the book as well! Mary's story was a close second, though. :)
      I know, I can't remember the last time I wanted to work on school so much! I keep reminding myself that I only have a few more months, a few more months... and I shall be done forever!!!! ;)

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    3. Exactly! I am losing my patience with the regular old subjects fast, so I'm trying to plow through D: I can't wait to be done now that I see how much more life can hold!! I find it very "coincidental" that my angst to be done came in the last semester of my senior year ;) So now I understand what my senioritis-ridden first semester was all about.

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  4. Sounds like fun! I did...nothing. xD I wrote for an entire day and ate ice cream. :D I am on target for my goal, but Camp NaNo aproacheth!

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    1. Nothing is exactly what I felt like doing, Rachael. And thankfully I got to quite a bit of it in the car ;) Yay for goals!! Good luck with Camp NaNo :D

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  5. I completely understand you being busy! This last week was full of dress rehearsals for Seussical: the Musical which I am in with my family. And we have three performances! So. Much. Fun. Tonight we have friends coming from Florida to watch the musical--even better!

    But people ask about my current novel and I casually say..."Um...it's on hold. For a while." =P One day maybe we will be back to normal! =D

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    1. Isn't acting and singing and all of that so fun?! I wouldn't give up choir for the world (okay, maybe the WORLD, but . . .), but it is very time consuming and exhausting. I just finished with the one choir, so that leaves me with only two that I'm in right now. I'm usually in 3-4 during Christmas :P

      Haha, the Seussical! That sounds super fun. I wish I could come see it. What is it through? Your church or local theatre? The funnest part is always having people come and see it. Good luck and break a leg ;)

      Yeah, my novel went through a hold stage for a while. Right now the editing is on hold until April. :P

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    2. Oh yes! I usually don't like acting...I don't appreciate being the center of attention with a crowd watching. But God has given me peace about this, and I have overly enjoyed it! But tomorrow we have to leave all our new friends... =(

      The Seussical is fun! (can you guess whose books the play is based off?) It includes Horton Hears a Who, Green Eggs and Ham, and more! =D I live in a super small town, but we have been blessed with a lady who is VERY artsy! She has created a whole summer camp for fine arts...and also a musical each year! =) I hope the tradition keeps going...so fun!

      And why does EVERYONE tell actors to break a leg??? =D Lol...

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    3. Yeah, I usually opt out for the actual acting part of the little musicals we do at church, but singing is fun! That's so cool that you have opportunities even in a small town!

      I have no idea where the phrase originates, it's just the only stage slang I know :P I guess it means chill out and do well? NOT what it sounds like . . .

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  6. Wow, sounds awesome!! :D I read "Where Treetops Glisten" around Christmas and I love it so much. :)

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    1. You guys are all so smart, reading it around Christmas! I figured I'd like it, but expected it to be less engaging, fresh, and authentic than it was :)

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  7. Sounds like fun! Thanks for what you said about my writing challenges! I'm so glad that you like them!

    Sounds like you had a crazy break! Because we are doing the "year-round" schedule, we get two weeks off and started it yesterday. So far it looks like it is going to be super busy! (Mostly things I will enjoy!) For one, I get to help plan a summer camp that I have attended for five years and am finally too old to attend. That will be fun.

    Anyways, I think that is so cool that you do singing! I have an absolutely horrible singing voice. If you are ever doing something in California, let me know!

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    1. Of course, Bethany! I've only done the one, of course, but your ideas for them were super neat :)

      Quite honestly, it's great to have something to do over breaks, I just don't like to get totally worn out. Summer camp sounds awesome! Have a fun time :)

      Well, although I enjoy singing, I'm definitely not a soloist ;) But I've finally gotten louder and more confidant. If I could only learn how to breathe better, it might come easier for me :) I will definitely let you know if CA is ever on the agenda ;)

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    1. Everyone else was totally chill with it except for me. My grandfather decided not to go all the way across, but I was the only one who was petrified and got sick in the end. I'm not sure why, because, scenic or not, I found the heights and wind combination awful! It was still an adventure and the video was worth seeing, so I don't really regret it. It's just a unique memory ;)

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  9. Wow, you had a wild spring break. I don't blame you for being sick and exhausted! :) But congrats on all the writing stuff -- seriously, that's a lot. That bridge, tho o.o

    My spring break hasn't come about yet -- that's next week -- but I'm hoping I'll be able to just sit back and read/chill for a while. I've been stressed and doing school constantly lately.

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    1. Yeah, it was just a *tiny* bit hectic. Sounds like you definitely deserve a break! You should totally just read and sleep and eat. What more can a person ask for except an occasional Netflix binge? ;)

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