My pencil case on the side of me is covered in flowers, rainbows, smiling ladybugs, and butterflies. It reminds me of one kleenex commercial I saw on TV the other day. In the commercial, there is a monk (whom I'm assuming to be Buddhist) who embraces all nature, taking time just to save every little creature in the way. He turns over a turtle on stuck upsidedown, he returns a fish back into the water, and even transfers a spider from the floor to a homely plant. This monk has a cold however, and sneezes into Kleenex, realizing to his dispair that he had just killed 99.9% of his cold and flu viruses. Then on the bottom of the screen it says, thank goodness for forgiveness.
I found this commercial funny, and now that I think back on it, I start to wonder why God created germs and bugs in the first place. All germs do is make people and animals sick, doing us no good whatsoever. People say that there is a reason for everything, but I can't seem to understand the reason behind bugs and germs. The only thing most people do to such nuisances is try killing them. Some bugs like the butterflies and the ladybugs are beautiful to look at, but the other millions of species are ugly and it seems as though they are just taking up space.
Ok, maybe after thinking about this topic a little more, I am beginning to understand. Bugs are just a part of the circle of life I guess. Bugs are food to other animals, which are food to other animals, which are food to us humans. If all bugs were to die, then then the animals who eat the bugs will die, and the other animals who eat those animals will die, which will probably make our own survival harder. Maybe I am being a little self-centered, thinking that the only species that matter is the most powerful one, maybe we should be more considerate God's creations, since he probably had purpose for everything here. But on what level should we be considerate of God's creation? Should we be like monks, saving every little spider, and feeling guilty when we get over a cold? It's true that spiders and germs are a nuisance, but is that a reason to kill? I mean, we don't kill off annoying people in our lives. This deep thinking is making my head hurt...
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Nails
As I look at my fingers typing this blog, I see that my nails are really ugly now. For junior function, I had got my nails done by none other than myself, (with the help of my mom and sister). My mom already bought the OPI french manicure set she only used once so there wasn't any point in setting up an appointment with a professional manicurist (is that what they are called?) that would end up costing me $65, (which is more than a function ticket). It actually turned out to be nicer than I thought, which was a relief because it actually ended up taking me an hour or so. I had no idea how many steps was needed to paint a simple french manicure. There were five steps, which you had to wait five minutes in between to make sure your nails were completely dry. Ok, maybe it took longer than it should have since I made many mistakes along the way. It was my first time doing a french manicure so I guess those many mistakes were acceptable. I actually ended up making my mom and my sister do my right hand since I was getting frustrated with my left hand capabilities. The end product wasn't perfect, for it was obvious that they were done by someone like me. Nevertheless I was happy how they turned out.
Sadly however, no one noticed the effort I put into those nails at junior function. In fact, even I had forgotten that I had my nails done until a friend was showing me her beautiful $65 professionally done nails. I showed her mines, and she complimented them; I was proud that someone appreciated these nails of mine. But it was after we had gotten back to school, so it was dark and she couldn't see how uneven the paintings were or how my right hand's nails weren't as shiny as my left hand's nails.
Today, four days after junior function, while writing this blog, I can totally see the flaws in the once half decent nails. During these four days, I have been using my hands pretty frequently, going to gymnastics practice, and getting them chlorine-ified from diving practice. Therefore, the very tips of my tips don't have nail polish any more and they now look sad and pathetic. From the preparation for junior function, I can say that I have a stronger appreciation for the many women out there who have to look good all the time. I now know what it's like to spend hours and money on hair, make-up, nails, and clothes. I couldn't imagine doing that everyday, having to cut off sleep just to get ready.
Sadly however, no one noticed the effort I put into those nails at junior function. In fact, even I had forgotten that I had my nails done until a friend was showing me her beautiful $65 professionally done nails. I showed her mines, and she complimented them; I was proud that someone appreciated these nails of mine. But it was after we had gotten back to school, so it was dark and she couldn't see how uneven the paintings were or how my right hand's nails weren't as shiny as my left hand's nails.
Today, four days after junior function, while writing this blog, I can totally see the flaws in the once half decent nails. During these four days, I have been using my hands pretty frequently, going to gymnastics practice, and getting them chlorine-ified from diving practice. Therefore, the very tips of my tips don't have nail polish any more and they now look sad and pathetic. From the preparation for junior function, I can say that I have a stronger appreciation for the many women out there who have to look good all the time. I now know what it's like to spend hours and money on hair, make-up, nails, and clothes. I couldn't imagine doing that everyday, having to cut off sleep just to get ready.
Get Over It
A reverse dive is probably my least favorite dive. Wait, what am I saying? It IS my least favorite dive, in fact, I think I might even hate it. A reverse dive is a dive in which the diver does a regular forward hurdle and rotates backwards to enter the water. It may sound like a pretty simple dive, but it is in fact, really scary. When rotating backwards, I often see the board pass by as I enter the water. My biggest fear is cutting off the board and landing on the board instead of the water. Even though I am a former competitive gymnast, I never learned how to do skills that relates to a reverse dive. In gymnastics, we learn how to travel and flip backwards, forwards, and sideways, but never at the same time.
Every night at practice, my coach has to force me to practice my reverse dives repeatedly. He always tells me that the only way to get through my fear, is to get my numbers in. In other words, I have to practice that dive many times so I can get more comfortable doing it. I have been doing reverse dives throughout my season of diving, and I have to admit, I'm not exactly comfortable doing it yet.
During the summer of 2006 was when I first attempted these dreadful reverse dives. Surprisingly, my first few reverse dives were actually my best, because for some reason, I slowly got closer and closer to the board after these first few dives. My coach told me to take it out, but I didn't exactly know how. And instead of taking it out I took it waay in. I jumped on the side of the board, flew backwards when I was supposed to go forwards, and almost landed on the side wall, which is about 2 feet behind the front of the board. If I hadn't have went sideways, I would have landed on the board, and might have gotten some broken bones. In mid air, I saw the wall pass by me, while my teammate and coach were screaming. Luckily, my coach didn't me do it again that day, and it was the last practice of the summer session.
I was obviously terrified when I came back to practice before season started. I tried to leave early from practice so I wouldn't get the chance to do those reverse dives. But as time passed, I realized that I couldn't hide from that dive forever, and that I had to at least attempt it sooner or later. My coach realized this too, and taught me how to do reverse dives over again. I remember doing those drills, and wished that I could do those forever. My coach finally talked me into trying one eventually, and I actually I ended up going for one. It wasn't the prettiest dive, but I was proud of myself for attempting it. That dive didn't miraculously free myself from that fear, but after attempting it, I started to get a little more self-confidence. I actually ended up competing that dive in five meets, not very well, but I it anyway. In fact, at diving states, I cut off the board again, and ended up being very close to the board. My teammate's grandma screamed really loud, which scared the heeber jeebers out of me. I ended up getting a really low score for it too.
But no matter how scared I am of the dive, and how terrible it is, I learned to get through the 'heeber jeebers' and just go for it because I learned that if I wouldn't have tried, I wouldn't have gotten very far in diving. Besides, there really isn't as much satisfaction and pride of getting through the season without any obstacles along the way.
Every night at practice, my coach has to force me to practice my reverse dives repeatedly. He always tells me that the only way to get through my fear, is to get my numbers in. In other words, I have to practice that dive many times so I can get more comfortable doing it. I have been doing reverse dives throughout my season of diving, and I have to admit, I'm not exactly comfortable doing it yet.
During the summer of 2006 was when I first attempted these dreadful reverse dives. Surprisingly, my first few reverse dives were actually my best, because for some reason, I slowly got closer and closer to the board after these first few dives. My coach told me to take it out, but I didn't exactly know how. And instead of taking it out I took it waay in. I jumped on the side of the board, flew backwards when I was supposed to go forwards, and almost landed on the side wall, which is about 2 feet behind the front of the board. If I hadn't have went sideways, I would have landed on the board, and might have gotten some broken bones. In mid air, I saw the wall pass by me, while my teammate and coach were screaming. Luckily, my coach didn't me do it again that day, and it was the last practice of the summer session.
I was obviously terrified when I came back to practice before season started. I tried to leave early from practice so I wouldn't get the chance to do those reverse dives. But as time passed, I realized that I couldn't hide from that dive forever, and that I had to at least attempt it sooner or later. My coach realized this too, and taught me how to do reverse dives over again. I remember doing those drills, and wished that I could do those forever. My coach finally talked me into trying one eventually, and I actually I ended up going for one. It wasn't the prettiest dive, but I was proud of myself for attempting it. That dive didn't miraculously free myself from that fear, but after attempting it, I started to get a little more self-confidence. I actually ended up competing that dive in five meets, not very well, but I it anyway. In fact, at diving states, I cut off the board again, and ended up being very close to the board. My teammate's grandma screamed really loud, which scared the heeber jeebers out of me. I ended up getting a really low score for it too.
But no matter how scared I am of the dive, and how terrible it is, I learned to get through the 'heeber jeebers' and just go for it because I learned that if I wouldn't have tried, I wouldn't have gotten very far in diving. Besides, there really isn't as much satisfaction and pride of getting through the season without any obstacles along the way.
Monday, March 12, 2007
My Friend, Caffine
Caffine will be my friend tonight, for I will spending many hours doing homework. Our defining moment draft is due tomorrow, along with a math and Japanese test. It wouldn't be so bad if I knew the material for these tests, but the thing is, I don't. For Japanese I started memorizing the vocabulary, but there is still a lot more for me to learn about the kanji, culture notes, and sentence structures. In math, I usually know what I'm doing, but these lessons I have found myself lost. Today during our review game, I couldn't answer the majority of the questions which is kind of disturbing. Whata makes it worse is that on this test, there will be questions from last test's material. Confusing permutations, combinations, pascals triangle, binomial theorem, the list goes on and on. I don't know how long it will take until I actually start understanding and feel confident. Maybe I'll go to my friend's house again so we can study together. Ya, that sounds like a good idea, hopefully she can be my tutor. I just hope I won't be wasting her time if I do. The defining moment paper is also due tomorrow. However, I still haven't figured out a way to go about my paper, and I need to decide how to do so. When I read my paper, it sounds weird. I don't know if it doesn't make sense or if I have too many grammatical errors, but whatever the case is, I need to make some changes by tomorrow. And on Thursday, I have my physics test (which is ALWAYS hard), my Japanese presentation, for which I have to memorize 1 1/2 pages of Japanese, a Japanese paper, which requires an hour spent on watching a Japanese TV show, and these composition posts. You might ask why I didn't start over the weekend. The answer to that is that I was just busy. On Saturday, I had my Junior Function, for which I had to get my nails done, my hair done, make up done, etc. And on Sunday, I was really tired, due to my unwelcomed monthly visitor. So I ended up waking up at 10:30. After that, I went to lunch, went to the gym aalll the way in Pearl City, came home to eat dinner, and went to sleep at 8:30 because I was so tired. I really did try to do my homework and everything but I was just too tired and my math homework was just too blurry since I was only half awake. Sadly, I think I'll be tired again today, tomorrow, and the day after, so caffine will definitely have to be my friend. I know it's our last week before spring break and the third quarter is ending, but hours of homework is never really fun.
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Lucky Kids
In my U.S. History class we have just finished a mock trial dealing with the annexation of the Hawaiian monarchy. I am actually supposed to write a reflection like paper in response to this trial after I finish this blog. I am definitely not looking forward to doing that. When given assignments like that, is when I realize that I really miss those days of freedom in elementary school.
At gym class one day, I remember talking to a fifth grader who was complaining to me about her homework, saying, “I have soooo much homework tonight! You know, I have to do three whole workbook pages!” I rolled my eyes and told her that was nothing compared to the work we have in high school. But for some reason, she was determined to convince me otherwise. “But it’s three pages front and back, so I actually have to do six!” I had to laugh to myself because I knew that was nothing. But at the same time I remembered those days when I used to think that ‘six’ pages of homework was too much.
Some people may say that as teenagers, we have more freedom because we don’t have as much restrictions from the adults in our life since we are expected to think on our own and what not. However, I think that as kids, we actually had more freedom. As a child, we didn’t have as many responsibilities we are expected to have such as chores and the overdose of homework teachers give us to restrict us from doing the things we want to do. Therefore, we had more time to spend on whatever we wanted rather than taking care of so many tedious responsibilities. Also, we actually have to think more of what is right or wrong now, because the consequences are greater as a teenager. We can go to jail for stealing something from a grocery store as more mature people. But when we would have done the same thing as a kid, our actions are overlooked and will just be blamed on the parents. Basically, the kid can do whatever she wants since the parents will ultimately take the blame. Just by watching kids play on the playground, I can see the freedom little kids have. They run around screaming their heads off, without a care in the world. As an observer, I think it can be kind of cute, since it is normal for kids to act like that and it is expected for kids to have so much energy. But as teenagers, one will be thought of as really immature and weird if someone started running around screaming her head off. Therefore, kids have the power to act however they want and no one will care. It’s just too bad I didn’t realize how great it is to be a kid when I was a kid.
At gym class one day, I remember talking to a fifth grader who was complaining to me about her homework, saying, “I have soooo much homework tonight! You know, I have to do three whole workbook pages!” I rolled my eyes and told her that was nothing compared to the work we have in high school. But for some reason, she was determined to convince me otherwise. “But it’s three pages front and back, so I actually have to do six!” I had to laugh to myself because I knew that was nothing. But at the same time I remembered those days when I used to think that ‘six’ pages of homework was too much.
Some people may say that as teenagers, we have more freedom because we don’t have as much restrictions from the adults in our life since we are expected to think on our own and what not. However, I think that as kids, we actually had more freedom. As a child, we didn’t have as many responsibilities we are expected to have such as chores and the overdose of homework teachers give us to restrict us from doing the things we want to do. Therefore, we had more time to spend on whatever we wanted rather than taking care of so many tedious responsibilities. Also, we actually have to think more of what is right or wrong now, because the consequences are greater as a teenager. We can go to jail for stealing something from a grocery store as more mature people. But when we would have done the same thing as a kid, our actions are overlooked and will just be blamed on the parents. Basically, the kid can do whatever she wants since the parents will ultimately take the blame. Just by watching kids play on the playground, I can see the freedom little kids have. They run around screaming their heads off, without a care in the world. As an observer, I think it can be kind of cute, since it is normal for kids to act like that and it is expected for kids to have so much energy. But as teenagers, one will be thought of as really immature and weird if someone started running around screaming her head off. Therefore, kids have the power to act however they want and no one will care. It’s just too bad I didn’t realize how great it is to be a kid when I was a kid.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Hopeless Me
My lunch for today is grilled Boca burger sandwich, with avocados, tomatoes, and lettuce. I’m really hungry, and can’t wait to eat it. But it’s only 11:06 am and I usually don’t get hungry till 12:30. My mom makes the best lunch; she packs it for me everyday along with a mountain load of snacks. To my friends, I am known to be the one who always has food. I know I am spoiled like that, and I love it. My mom has a hectic job, but she always manages to make such delicious lunches. I just briefly checked my front pocket of my backpack, and it is stuffed with food, filled with curly Cheetos, organic raisins, Nutter Butter, and that’s only what I can see without digging in. Both my mom and grandma are such good cooks. It seems as though everyone’s moms and grandmas are. It’s kind of sad though, because most my generation of girls can’t cook. I happen to be one of them, sadly enough. I only know how to cook with a recipe in front of me, using measuring cups and measuring spoons, occasionally having to ask my mom what some cooking terms like ‘braise’ mean. I am already a junior heading towards college, and don’t even know how to cook on my own. I keep telling myself I need to learn, but for some reason I always seem to get too lazy. I give credit to those stay at home moms out there.
Sadly to say, I can’t sew either. I sewed hems and buttons once or twice, but I never made anything real useful. My mom used to make me dresses to wear to preschool, and I don’t know how she did it. Even when I sew a hem with a sewing machine, the stitch comes so crocked. But I guess the skill of sewing isn't that important because most people buy their clothes already made anyway. I'll just pray to God that there won't be a huge flood or something that wipes out all the clothing stores. Even though I can’t cook or sew, I can proudly say that I can wash clothes. I know what detergent goes with which, how to push the right buttons, turn knobs, hang clothes, and fold clothes. It might sound pathetic that I’m bragging about this, but there are some people my age who don’t know how. If I were to say this to someone three generations ago, everyone would think I’m mentally handicapped or something. Maybe it’s true that as years pass, kids are getting more and more lazy due to the increase of technology. Either that, or parents are learning how to spoil their children. Nevertheless, no matter how much I enjoy being spoiled, I think kids should learn about such basic tasks. Pretty soon I, along with so many other people, will be moving on to college, without our parents. After college, we will all have families and then we will have to be the parent. We will have to start being independent and take care of ourselves. I need to stop writing now because my laptop is going to die.
Sadly to say, I can’t sew either. I sewed hems and buttons once or twice, but I never made anything real useful. My mom used to make me dresses to wear to preschool, and I don’t know how she did it. Even when I sew a hem with a sewing machine, the stitch comes so crocked. But I guess the skill of sewing isn't that important because most people buy their clothes already made anyway. I'll just pray to God that there won't be a huge flood or something that wipes out all the clothing stores. Even though I can’t cook or sew, I can proudly say that I can wash clothes. I know what detergent goes with which, how to push the right buttons, turn knobs, hang clothes, and fold clothes. It might sound pathetic that I’m bragging about this, but there are some people my age who don’t know how. If I were to say this to someone three generations ago, everyone would think I’m mentally handicapped or something. Maybe it’s true that as years pass, kids are getting more and more lazy due to the increase of technology. Either that, or parents are learning how to spoil their children. Nevertheless, no matter how much I enjoy being spoiled, I think kids should learn about such basic tasks. Pretty soon I, along with so many other people, will be moving on to college, without our parents. After college, we will all have families and then we will have to be the parent. We will have to start being independent and take care of ourselves. I need to stop writing now because my laptop is going to die.
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