Tests and Wal-Mart

Well, I can honestly say that this week hasn't gone well. Today was AWFUL. First of all, I woke up at 5:30, got ready as usual, but had to wait to get dressed because the clothes are where my parents' makeshift bedroom is. I should have gotten my clothes last night, but I'll know better Wednesday. Anyways, I woke up with my stomach hurting, a repeat of yesterday morning; I really think it was due to me drinking milk Sunday night, then a piece of cheese last night (I'm probably lactose intolerant like my mom), but yeah, I wasn't very hungry and usually I wait and eat when I get on the road so that whatever I eat lasts me a little longer. I didn't realize that we were completely out of bacon and biscuits/sausage and biscuits, and so I grabbed a packet of cheese crackers (didn't really bother me as badly as the other cheese products) and that was my breakfast. Needless to say, it's not a very substantial one. I made a sandwich as usual and cut it in half so I could eat it when I got hungry. So I was mad about the fact that I had no actual breakfast, nearly didn't get out the door at 7 as usual, and that I was mad. Yes, I was mad because I was mad and frustrated. ANd yes, I do have a short fuse for a temper. It doesn't take much to set me off, and it's something I should work on.

I got to Algebra class on time, and received my test back. I made a 78...not great, but still passing. Then went on to history and received my test results and paper back; she grades the reading journal, test, and paper together. I made an 84 (B-). I knew my paper wasn't an A; mainly because of the fact that I had never written in MLA format so this was a test run for me. Composition I didn't get anything back yet; my teacher said she hoped to get our papers back to us by Thursday; I think I made a B, but I don't think it was an A. Biology I got nothing back...my first test I made an 80 something. I made a B, obviously. Something I'm proud about. So after classes were done, I stuck around G-ville because my mom is takin some classes there at the school, and we were going to go eat at Cracker Barrel when she got out. So I had to stick around for a couple of hours; well I needed to run to Wal-Mart and get some school stuff, and at the four-way stop sign, as I was turning left, I was obviously somewhat accelerating. I hit a patch of something and nearly lost complete control of the car. I tapped my brakes and the car straightened out, but my heart was racing. I have been trying lately to drive more carefully and not be in such a hurry, but I don't know if it was me or if my tires just decided to slide. My car has absolutely no traction in it whatsoever, and I dread having to drive in winter weather. But the Lord was with me today, and apparently, I'm not yet meant to get into a wreck.

Can you see that today has been a little eventful?

Dover/There's a Spider On Me!!!!

So today is race 2 of the NSCS Championship post-season. Not much to say, except Joey Logano had a humongous (spelling?) crash and he and every other driver walked away without injury. Jimmie Johnson (ugh) won, with Tony coming in 5th. Not great, but he moved up a points spot and had a better finish than last week's race. If JJ wins the cup again, I am forever quitting NASCAR and I will send a very heated letter to the association. JJ's championship should've been revoked in 2007 since they found the team cheating...but since NASCAR officials' pockets are padded by Hendrick Motorsports, they took little action. Puh.

To end this blog on a little more humorous note, I was logging into Blogger when I felt something run up my arm. I brushed my arm, but couldn't see anything; so I lifted up my arm and see this black spider on the underside of my arm. Now, if you know me, you know I'm 100% arachnophobic/afraid of spiders. Naturally, I let out a scream and jumped up and yelled, "There's a spider on me!" I ran over into the dining room, brushing everything I could hoping to get him off; I turned around and my mom said, "you brushed him off." Wasn't good enough for me; I wanted to kill it! I found him on the floor so (thank goodness for having socks on) I just stepped on him. Whew. Yes, I know, I'm very much female in that I hate spiders, but I'd rather they not be on me. Ick. In the process of screaming, I scared our cat. He was hidin behind one of the recliners trying to figure out what just happened.

Is that a Kodak moment or what? You can decide. :)

Superchick/BarlowGirl

It's been a while since I blogged.

Wednesday was the best day I've had in a while. Why? Well, my friend and I got to meet Superchick and BarlowGirl, two very popular Christian bands. First off, they seemed like very nice people in their Q&A, very down to earth. The concert was held at FBC, Decatur. Huge church, and the perfect size for this concert. Superchick was up first, and man, can they rock out! Wow! I couldn't believe how good they are in concert. They sang some really great songs. One of them is Hold, that has the best message besides Crawl (Carry Me Through); lyrics to Hold are below:

Tell me that it's gonna be okay
Tell me that You'll help me find my way
Tell me You can see the light of dawn is breaking
Tell me that it's gonna be alright
Tell me that You'll help me fight this fight
Tell me that You won't leave me alone in this

'Cause I need, I need a hand to hold
To hold me from the edge
The edge I'm sliding over slow'
Cause I need, I need Your hand to hold
To hold me from the edge
The edge I'm sliding past Hold on to me

Tell me I can make it through this day
I don't even have the words to pray
You have been the only One who never left me
Help me find the way through all my fears
Help me see the light through all my tears
Help me see that I am not alone in this.

That song still speaks to me because that is how I was feeling up until last night. But Superchick has a fantastic sound and I'm loving their cd, "Rock What You Got."

Next up, BarlowGirl: I told my friend, "oh, they won't get too wild." Haha, I lied. They really shocked me! Lauren Barlow can play those drums and sing. They sang some great songs as well (and I got to get both groups autographs after the concert); they are adorable and beautiful women who I'm proud to be a fan of and support. I'd love to get to sit down with them and talk with them because they seem like the kind of people you just want to be around. They sang a mix of old(er) and new songs, including this gem, Stay with Me and Beautiful Ending:

Hope is getting though this night
And life is not dying in this fight
Begging you to deliver me
Confused why you won't take this pain from me

PRE-CHORUS
My steps never felt so hard
The end never looked so far
But if you won't take me out then please take me through this

CHORUS
Stay with me
So I wont leave
And make me see
That this is not forever
Cause all I need is your love
Pulling me

What is the reason for this night
Is hope found in moments with no light
Does strength grow in our greatest fears
God I pray something good will come from this pain
With you here I know
I don't go alone
I am yours and so
Through the fire I go....

PRE-CHORUS
Stay with me
So I wont leave
And make me see
That this is not forever

CHORUS

I'd post the lyrics to Beautiful Ending, but Blogger doesn't like to copy and paste. Pooh. Anyways, I had an awesome time at the concert and would love to see both groups again!

Richmond IR

Saturday was the final race in the regular season of the NSCS. Now, it's a race to the finish to see who will be hoisting the NSCS Championship trophy at Homestead-Miami in November. Tony is officially second. A little disappointed, but Tony has had a bad 3 weeks lately. I'm not worried, but I refuse to say, "Tony will be the 09 Champ" because I'll jinx him...lol. Not really. He'll do okay...even if he doesn't win, it'll be great if he finishes the season second as his first year in the driver/owner seat. NObody thought he could do it, and frankly, neither did I. I was thinking he'd play it cool this year, but no. He jumped right in and has done great. It's very hard to believe that it's already the post-season of NASCAR in 2009! Where has this year gone? First I was looking forward to the START of the season, then graduation, then summer, then my freshman year of college, NOW it's the post-season of NASCAR; I'm looking forward to the Fall Carnival at church, Thanksgiving, Christmas and my birthday are only a few short months away! I'll be 18 within 3 months. Yikes. Pretty soon, I'll be looking down the barrel of 2010.

I was going to blog some more, but history paper research 'tis calling me. Oh, and keep Andrew STephens in your prayers; I follow his blog, "HIstory Will be Kind to Me...I intend to write it."; he is the grandson of a couple that we're friends with from my old church. He is sick with something akin to the swine flu only worse and has been put on bed rest for 7-10 days.

Atlanta Motor Speedway

Yesterday's NSCS race at Atlanta wasn't much to watch...it was pretty boring, and Tony was doing so bad that I turned to Star Trek: TOS. But my dad told me he came back and finished 11th; not great but better than the place he could've finished, 20th. So, this is a very short blog. Richmond is this coming Saturday, the last race of the regular season, and will be the race that determines who will be in the Chase for the Sprint Cup and who will have to be on the outside. Tony has clinched his spot as 1st, but he needs to win some more races, and Johnson and Gordon both need to have a lot of bad races before I'll be relaxed about his position. He just needs to keep widening the gap every weekend, and he should be okay.

Let's hope Richmond will be better than Atlanta!

1 Week Almost Down, 15 to Go

Week 2 of the Fall semester started yesterday, with my biology lab running until about 2:45 p.m. (from 12:30). I didn't realize it'd run so long, but it wasn't all boring...we got to work with the microscope, and I hadn't ever really had the chance to look through a "real" microscope (I have once or twice at the vet clinic, but I didn't get to prepare the slides or anything). I have good lab partners too; which is good for me since I'm not the greatest at doing calcuations!

History on the other hand is another story. Now I know that secular liberalism is everywhere and anywhere you go, but it's sickening when the teacher can't seem to get off a tangent of her own. Shouldn't every teacher be a little more neutral on subjects like that? (It's US History, btw). I felt slammed, attacked, and bombarded with just about everything that she said. I couldn't wait to get out of there. I really wish I had another history teacher, but I guess I'll just have to suck it up this semester and maybe get another one for the spring semester (hopefully). I have a position paper that is due in September, but I am already going ahead and working on it, because I only have 3 weeks to do it.

Composition is...blah. I don't like English, and I never have. I'm not big on group or class dicussions or anything like that.

Biology (the class) is okay; evolution of course is a mainstay; and painting humans as being bad people is key. So, along with writing a history paper, I have a "Biology in the News" report that is due in like October I think. My article (or source) is due Sept. 15th. I have plenty of time, but I am going to go ahead and start looking for things to use. At the end of the semester, a group presentation is due. My team members and I will put together a PowerPoint presentation about something biologically related, such as diseases, hereditary issues, etc... and each of us will take a section and talk about it. We have to do outlines for it, but I don't think any of it will be too bad; the worst part will be getting up to talk about it in front of 30 people plus the teacher!

I also am taking Beginning Algebra, since I failed the math portion of the THEA test. No biggie, I really needed help in math anyway.

Despite all my complaints about school, and the fact that I don't like the views being presented, I am determined to: 1. be a witness for Christ, 2. glorify Him in my work, and 3. Do my best at everything, and not give it up.