You've Heard of Human Cannonballs?

This morning, my brothers and I were reading with my mom. In the middle of her sentence, my mom started laughing. We all looked up to see what she was laughing at and she said, "A chipmunk was running around the deck, and it just crawled into the end of the leaf blower. If someone were to turn the blower on, it'd go flying!"

We all jumped up and looked out onto our backyard deck. "Can I do it mom?!" my 12 year old brother asked eagerly. Sure that the chipmunk would escape first, my mom agreed and we all watched as my brother tiptoed out onto the deck and clicked the "ON" button. The chipmunk shot out like a cannonball, flew across the deck and hit a toy bucket! He scrambled to his feet and zipped away so fast, that we barely saw him go! We sat there laughing for about 10 minutes before we finally got back to our schoolwork.


It was the most exciting thing that happened to me all day. :)

Egyptian Writing Assignments

Mara's Room

I pushed open the door to my new chambers. Inside, the first thing I saw was gold. Gold was everywhere! To the right of me was a windowsill where I could lazily perch if I grew weary. Directly next to it was my dressing room with a chest full of silk garments and leather sandals. Then my eyes swerved to the vanity table sitting to the left of me, piled with cosmetics, stone mirrors, jewelry, elaborate wigs and lotuses for my hair. I let out a squeal of delight for my good fortune! I ran to the couch next to it, which was lined with silk and beaded decorations. The low beautifully-carved table in front of me was lined with foods fit for a princess. I plopped some grapes into my mouth and gazed at the most stunning piece of furniture in the room, sitting perfectly centered-the divan on which I was to sleep on every night from here on. The sleek satin gleamed as if beckoning me to come lay on it. The headrest looked newly polished as it sparkled from Ra's smile. I waved my slave girl away, to leave me in peace, that I might satisfy myself with these new surroundings.

(My assignment was to write a descriptive paragraph using spatial order.)

Hequet the Crack-up

In the Eloise Jarvis McGraw's novel, The Golden Goblet, the character that I would most likely be friends with is Hequet. From the author's descriptions, he sounds handsome, easygoing and friendly. Best of all, he's always cracking jokes. What I love about my friends is that they are very humorous and Hequet would fit right in, with his amusing personality. I'd love to hang out with him for a day!

(My assignment was to write a paragraph on the golden goblet with all sentences relating to the topic sentence.)

Rehearsals Number One and Two!

What a weekend! Almost 8 hours of rehearsing for Charlotte's Web!


"It's the first rehearsal, and Charlotte's gonna be late!" I pouted on the way there on Friday. "Great impression for the directors."

Phew. We're on time. Everyone was still chatting loudly and drifting from clique to clique. I breathed a sigh of relief. The directors are the late ones!

I saw one of my best friends and ran to her. She gave me a hug and cried, "Ahhh, Charlotte's here!!!" Other people crowded around me and tried to talk all at once and give me hugs. I gave them all hugs and asked how their summer was...etc.

When the directors showed up, everyone sat down and listened to what they had to say to the cast of Charlotte's Web!

Now, before I tell you what happened from here on, I have to write a little something about our directing team: Three words. They. are. spectacular.

The Head Director is from Texas. I've worked with her twice before and I've learned soooo much from her. She's short and very tan with long, wavy, blonde hair. Aaaaand, my favorite part, she has different shoes every time I see her! I have never once seen her wear the same pair of shoes. I'd love to see where she keeps all of them. Anyway, she's pretty and cute and fun!

The Assistant Director is from Hollywood. OHMIGOSH, seriously? Yeah. She is. She had a supporting role on the TV show House and one other show. She's also been an assistant for a very, very big acting coach. Other than her blonde hair she's the complete opposite of the Head Director. She's really tall. And she's skinny-winny! Seriously, she could be a model.

Last but not least: The Music Director. She is from, I am very proud to say, right down the street from where I live. She has been singing all her life. She gives voice lessons and may I just say: she has an AMAZING voice. As well as amazing hair. Her brown hair is incredibly long and just perfectly curled, along with some light blonde highlights. She also has drop-dead gorgeous eyes.

Sigh. Do these directors not sound gorgeous as well as talented?? Alright. Back to the story.

The directors first said all the boring stuff that they have to say. "Hi my name is...," "Welcome back...," "Hope you had a great summer...."

Then they asked us all to go around and say our names and parts we play. Funny story here. First, my 12 year old brother forgot to say his name, and his friend whispered, "Your name!" Misunderstanding, he said out loud, "...and I'm lame?" Next, he tried to say his role, Henry Fussy, Fern's boyfriend. But it came out, "...and I'm playing the role of Freddy Hussy! Uh, I mean Hustle..no. Harry..no." Everyone was about peeing in their pants by then.

When it came to my turn, after I said my name and role, my dear, dear friends, applauded. :] Awwwwwwwww.

Anyway, the rest of the night was probably pretty boring for most people, but I was not one of them. We went through the whole script and...oh lordie, do I have a lot of lines to memorize!


SATURDAY:


The next morning's rehearsal started out with worship. So we sang worship songs and warmed up our voice. Then, we danced.

We danced and danced and danced to the song, "Chin Up" (a song I sing with Wilbur). The sad thing is, I have so much fun learning that dance...and I'm not even going to be doing it in the show! I will be sitting up in the barn loft for the whole thing. But I get to sing the song. :]

Then we learned 5 more songs with our beautiful music director and I had to sing "Charlotte's Lullaby" in front of the whole cast! I thought I'd be nervous, but I had fun with it.

I have to say it again. What a weekend!!!

I Did It, Auntie!

My Aunt Summer tagged me for this blogging meme.

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
2. You must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of their middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
3. When you are tagged, you need to write your own blog post containing your own middle name game facts.
4. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

E is for Energetic: I can be very energetic. I randomly break out dancing. My hands are constantly moving while I'm talking. I walk really fast. I talk fast. I can get wired-up pretty easily. :]

M is for Magnanimous: I like to help others. I forgive people eagerly and I make sure no one's left out. I like to give to others to make them feel good, or loved. I like people to feel special.

I is for Insane: I am pretty insane! I think of crazy ideas that no one in their right minds would think of. I'm a dare-devil too. I will do pretty mental things if dared too. :] But I do have my rules, don't worry. You always have 3 chicken-outs.

L is for Loud: I am NOISY. I get in trouble for it all the time. Not only do I talk very loud, I'm known for popping my gum piercingly! Now a lot of my friends will tease me by popping their gum and blaming it on me when the teacher/director asks who did it.

Y is for "You-nique": (I just had to use 'unique' somewhere, but I just don't have a U in my middle name!) So, I'd say I'm pretty unique. At least, I like to be different. I never, ever copy-cat anyone. I like to think of my own ideas. But the biggest thing that I think is unique about me, is my clothes. I wear unique clothes! I love my clothes to stand out. So I throw the weirdest things together. But, I always get compliments. ;]

And that, my friends, is my middle name! So tag, Erin and Acting Gal, YOU'RE IT!

<3,>

First Writing Assignment of the Year

My name is Dee Dee. I'm 14 years old and when I'm with people, I want them to have the time of their lives! I love to praise people and let them know how wonderful they are. I want people to love me the same way I love them. I never try to be some one I'm not. I'm always myself and I hope that whomever I'm with, will love me for who I am! . I love friends. Life is nothing without friends. If they're really you're friends, they look out for you, laugh with you, never make you look stupid and pray for you when you need help. God was so good when he gave me my friends.

I am very outgoing and loud. I'm almost always laughing. I love laughing, and everyone knows the saying, "The more you laugh, the longer you'll live to enjoy life!" I live up to that saying. I do my best to be a good Christian girl. I try to make wise choices and live a life that would please God. Overall, my friends find me enjoyable to be around!

I have straight blonde hair and big blue eyes. My skin is a light creamy color. I love to dress up in funky clothes. It doesn't matter where I'm going. To the park, I'd wear a homecoming dress with a baseball cap while to a party; I'd wear pajama pants and big balky jewelry. I just love being unique and not having the slightest care of what people think of me!

Some of my favorite things to do are acting, singing and dancing. I might major in college for singing. I love to get up on-stage and perform in front of hundreds of people! I also enjoy taking random pictures of things I pass on the streets. I love to get good looks of all the things God made for us! But I also use my camera for taking pictures of my friends and I. I love to be creative and have fun!

As I said before, when I'm with people, I want them to have the time of their lives! I want to show everyone how to love life and enjoy it while you have the chance! The most important thing I've learned about living my life is trusting in God. With Him in my life, everything is beautiful. I love to live my life for Him.

Auditions, Callbacks, CASTING!

Last Thursday I auditioned for Charlotte's Web! I thought I had done "okay." I felt that I could've done better but everyone reassured me that I had done very well. So, as I always have done after I get compliments, I got my hopes up.

Next morning, I came downstairs around 8:00 and my mom told me that I was called back for the Goose, Mrs. Arable, Mrs. Zuckerman and Charlotte. I was blown away! Four roles? Surely the directors made a mistake and put down too many names. So I went to callbacks and asked what I had been called back for. The lady at the desk told me that, indeed, I had been called back for all four parts. That's just weird, I thought to myself. So I sang and read for all of them.

#1. The Goose: I had practiced earlier how I would read my lines and sing this part. I decided that I would go with a sort of, masculine, motherly, controlling tone voice. I also added the thoughts of having a long neck like a goose. So I ended swinging my head around, while saying the lines, pretending I was goose! I made myself crack up. :]

#2. Mrs. A & Mrs. Z: I knew at once that I didn't want these parts. They were old women, and I did not want to pretend to be farmer's wives. I wanted to play a fun, young kind of role. I did my best nonetheless.

#3. Charlotte: THIS was the part I really wanted. Really, really, really wanted. I had practiced all her songs over and over before callbacks. I got up there, and gave it my all. But, there was this other girl, who did absolutely wonderful. I just knew that she had the role.

So, I went home, hoping for...The Goose. Since obviously, the other girl was already Charlotte.

I couldn't sleep that night. I was wide awake. My stomach was fluttering and my head was swimming with questions. My eyes wouldn't close and I couldn't stop moving around, trying to get comfortable. I would go from being so hot, I had to throw my blankets off. Then I would get so freezing cold that I would get out of bed and get an extra two blankets. Finally, I fell asleep dreaming of computers with headlines saying, "CAST LIST FOR CHARLOTTE'S WEB".

Next morning.


Let us take a moment of terrible not-knowingness............................................





I am Charlotte!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alright, let me explain. I woke up around 7:00 this time. I sat bolt upright, feeling sore from thrashing around in my sleep like a girl who was having some serious not-knowing-dreams. I lunged for the door and basically flew down the stairs. At the bottom, I heard my parents talking in the back room. I couldn't tell what they were saying. I rushed into the room and blurted, "Isthecastlistup?" For a moment I searched their faces and could've sworn I'd seen that familiar sympathy. I didn't get a main part, I thought. Then my mom smiled from ear to ear. I got The Goose. "What'dIget?" I asked, scared of what I was going to hear. "See for yourself!" They gestured toward the computer. I rushed to it and read the nightmare words across the page, CAST LIST FOR CHARLOTTE'S WEB. My eyes flicked down to the top of the list. There, I read the word Charlotte and next to it, my name.

I caught my breath and then let out a forced, "Oh my gosh." My dad laughed and I sat down and clicked the refresh button. My name came up again. Again. Again. I didn't believe it! I got Charlotte. I'm Charlotte? No, silly! The computer's messed up. Refresh. WHY IS MY NAME STILL THERE? OhmygoshI'mCharlotte.

And there you go folks, I. am. Charlotte.

I still didn't believe it until I saw one of my directors last night and she greeted me with the words, "Hey, how are you? CHARLOTTE." And then it went: BAM. I finally got my lead role.