X.Quiz.It Iona

George N. Parks and the UMass Drum Major Academy - Post #257

2008-08-07T18:49:00.000-07:00

So, I just spent five days at the University of Massachusetts learning to be a drum major from the amazing and wonder George N. Parks. It was literally one of the best weeks of my life. I learned to conduct every time signature that exists, practicing to Pirates, Marc Anthony, Al Jarreau, and Hook. I learned to lead a parade routine to the dreaded Florentiner March. I learned to march better than I ever have in my life, from him, from my squad leader, from my squad, and from teaching and fixing my squad. I learned to stay cool in a competition. I learned to spin and throw a mace. I learned how to salute. I learned how to lead a band that doesn't want to be led. I learned to make the most of my life. I made amazing, amazing friends.

My squad was made up of the squad leader, a veteran (someone who'd been there last year) senior named Matt, another veteran senior named Siobhan (sha-VAUN), a senior named Mike, a junior named Jen, me, and a sophomore named Derek. Matt was an amazing leader whose awkward sense of humor and general outgoing personality really taught us a lot and brought us together as a team. Siobhan had a very maternal personality, and kept everyone calm and on track when we were a little too hyper. Mike was a big quiet guy, but a terrific parade leader and a shyly cheerful addition to the group. Jen was also pretty quiet, but equally cheerful and reassuring to have around, as we were about the same skill level. Derek was a hilariously outgoing kid with a bright personality and an addictive smile. Together, we were unstoppable. Then there was Derek's flamboyant, amazing, Brazilian friend Natan who was in Rachel's squad and spoke Portuguese, my shy but wonderful roommate Shannon who traded goldfish and boyfriend stories with me at five thirty in the morning, and the quirky and bubbly Michelle who spoke Korean and had an adorable laugh.

There was a parade routine and some form fixing we had to do in competition. Everyone had to run it. The first day Matt and Siobhan went, and we did okay. In out little group of four, we came in third. Nick and Rachel were in squads 29 and 31 so they were with us in that group of four, and came in 2nd and 4th. It was okay, but after that Matt had us out (via text message) at the parking lot practicing at 7:30 in the morning, half an hour before everyone else started showing up and an hour before we actually had to be there.

The second day Mike and Derek went. Mike was great, loud and commanding, and Derek was doing great too, until during the random commands section he called a left turn harch and I, of course, went right. Determined not to show it, I kept going, straining my ears to hear his mark time harch and detail halt. Then...

"Iona, about face!"
"One, two!"
"Iona, march time harch! Forward harch!"
-I march back over.-
"Iona, marck time harch! Detail halt!"
"One, two!"

Then he called us to parade arms and we did this awesome staggered salute we'd practiced, and what do you know. For obvious extra work and staying cool under disaster, our squad placed first of four! We were elated.

Day three, of course, was mine and Jen's time to go. I felt like I did terribly, I was so nervous, marching on the wrong foot and forgetting to call mark time when I did the hand command...terrible. But when it came to it, we ended up first again! Jen and I jumped into each other's arms screaming in excitement. We ran into a circle, just our squad, and did our chant. "SQUAD THIRTY! ONE SQUAD! ONE MIND!" It felt amazing.

All the groups of four squads do a dumb cheer or something to get pumped after a competition, so we did the hokey pokey in a circle, but then I had an idea, and I was too hyper not to say it. Ther is a giant bizarre metal statue in the middle of the area we practice on that is affectionately referred to as the "giant purple pants" and because of me, squads 29, 30, 31, and 32 jumped around right underneath it chanting "PARTY IN THE PANTS" at the top of our lungs. Yeah. That kind of ridiculous excitement, all week long.

So many dumb jokes...Halloweentown and oompa loompa harch and detail, present cake and you spin me right round baby right rough like a rolloff baby and arm pizza and doilies and our Italian superhero...in five days, we made such great friends.

We also heard some amazing speeches, Enjoy Life Club and the DCI snare champion and Christmas and a blind drum major, and we were laughing and crying and there is just something about George N. Parks that makes you want to go out and change the world just to make him proud of you. He is definitely one of my heroes now. It's impossible to describe.

I learned to fix a squad. "Ready, form check, interval, alignment, RUNBACK! ch, chch ch, chch ch, chch ch..." I learned about syncopated rhythms and staying positive and making a band believe. I did better than I have ever done in a marchoff (I made it to the first salute!!). i did zero pushups in Medusa. I screamed and cheered for doing pushups, at a movie of the UMass marching band, at mace throws and people saluting. I fell into bed every night exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally.

I am so going back next year.

--Iona

...erm. Hello. - Post #256

2008-07-23T07:52:00.000-07:00

So...it's only been four months since my last post. I've only gotten confirmed, been to a Jonas brother's concert, seen Rent on Broadway, been to Atlanta for the robotics Nations, played in the pit for the Wiz, made the year mark with Tom, saved and attended the ring dance, went to the senior prom, held a robotics invitational, went to the music department banquet, watched my boyfriend graduate, went to Bermuda with the band, and went to Ireland with my family. That's like nothing, right? Yeah...

I don't know why I stopped posting. Somewhere between not having the energy and being caught up in the whirlwind of everything going on. Laziness and craziness. That's it. I've stopped posting before, but not for four months...so I figure you'll hear from me now. Every once in a while anyways. For now, Rachel and Catherine are here. Maybe I'll do a recap post of the past four months. They certainly have been good ones.

--Iona

Robotics Regionals- Post #255

2008-03-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

Thursday

I woke up extra early, straightened my hair, and ran to Dunkin Donuts for a bagel before my mom dropped me off at school. I wandered around the hallways, got a phonecall (oops, still in school) from Tom telling me to get Nathan (his millipede) out of his locker, then ran around the school with Danica trying to find the rest of our team. That's right, it was day one of the UTC CT Regionals for FIRST Robotics.

Tom was already at the civic center in Hartford with Dave and Mr. Van Fleet. The rest of us hopped on a bus at seven fifteen and kissed the school goodbye. Me and Danica and Julie waved at people in cars (one waved back), watched the faces Mitch made when he lip syncs to his iPod, and determined that people think you're talking about them if you stare at the, look away, and laugh.

We qued up outside the front doors until they were ceremoniously opened and a flood of pumped, nerdy teenager poured through. We all headed for the pits, and were stopped for the first time that day with the reminder, "No pit without safety glasses." Within five minutes they felt completely natural, and within an hour we slipped them on and off entering and exiting the pits without even thinking about it.

Today was all just practice rounds, so it wasn't that busy (aka you could still see the staircases in the stands). However, today was the day of the faceoff for coach. Me, Tim, and John rotated the matches so Mr. Cormier could decide who he wanted to be coach for the competition.

John was up first. I don't remember individual matches because generally I'm panicing, but I talked to Mitch and Tom afterwards and they said John was okay, but he kind of just agreed with everything Tom said instead of giving them any new information. I decided to step it up a little.

I remembered from my brief period coaching at the scrimmage how difficult it was to see down at the far end of the field, so I went to talk to Andy. As robocoach, he is stationed on the other end of the field. However, after his fifteen seconds of hybrid mode are up, he has nothing to do. We came up with a series of hand signals to communicate his easy view of the robot down where we had trouble seeing it. Mostly we used "keep going" and "you're clear" but there was also something came out to "woah, hold on, traffic jam" and "crap, you're broken, forget about the ball and just get some laps done."

I relayed these signals to Tom and Mitch, as well as kept them updated on the time, and things seemed to go okay. Tim was up next. I told him everything I'd thought of. I don't know why. I guess I should have kept them to myself or something but it still didn't really feel like we were competing. He did just as well.

From what I can remember, it went like that for pretty much the entire day. Oh yeah. and I broke the robot every single time I coached. Cursed? We shall see...

Tim sang the entire bus ride home.

Friday

Friday I got another sandwich from Dunkin Donuts, got to school early again, and met up with Tom and the gang for the bus ride back to Hartford. I was resigned to failing the coach position because Mr. Cormier didn't mention it the ride up. Then, when we got to the civic center, he told Tim to go out on the field for the coaches meeting. I knew it was over.

Or was it? When we were sitting in the stands watching the first match, I was talking to Dave and he asked if I was going next. Confusion... I told him I thought Tim had gotten it, but he said no, Mr. Cormier wanted one more rotation before he decided. Wow. Nerves. This was the real deal, we were into the qualifying rounds! Panic time.

I ran my match again and then at lunch talked to Mitch and Andy. They both said they wanted me to be coach, and went to talk to Mr. Cormier. And I got it! According to my mom, who talked to him in the stands, it was to get balance in the team. Tom was his rock, the one who was calm and collected in every situation, and I was the energetic one who got everyone pumped.

And man, by the end of the day that was true. Through wins and losses, I got terrifying and psyched and better at plugging the control board in and feeding Tom and Mitch information. At the end of the qualifying matched, we were ranked fifteen out of sixty two. Wow. Last year we were twenty-five. That was a rush like no other. And, through all those matches, we only got one penalty for breaking the plane.

After the competition Friday, team 1991 held a social at the American School for the Deaf. It took us a while to get in because we had to wait for Mr. Cormier, but it was fun. They had a room for food, one for DDR, and a gym for basketball, scooters, or dancing. It was cool to just hang out after all the stress of the competition.

The ride home was amazing. Most people were sleeping, the loud ones were still at the party, and it was just me and Tom listening to his iPod at the back of the bus. And the streetlights were pretty. =] Saturday

Saturday was terror. I woke up late, rushed to get ready for Tom picking me up, and forgot to eat breakfast. We got a ride to the civic center with Jeremiah's dad, and I slept most of the way.

When we got there, it was chaos. Today was the big day - selection and finals.I was terrified. The top eight teams from the qualifying rounds get to pick two other teams to join with them for their final alliance. We were picked by the eighth seated team, and our first match was against the first seated team. Oh dear.

We didn't eat lunch. Instead, we sat on the floor huddled around one of Mr. Ellis' model fields, trying to find some loophole that could help us win. Anything. I was panicking quietly, but it was cool. Even though I was on an alliance with eleven guys, they still all listened, which was awesome.

Then...showtime. The first match was AMAZING! We lost (of course) but it almost felt like a win. We were ahead the whole first half because Andy got the ball of the overpass, in our possession, and across the line in hybrid mode while one of our teammates crossed a whole four lines. We hurdled, and even hit the Uberbots' ball back once so they had to go all the way around to get it again. The final score was 74 them, 70 us. Amazing.

Our second match wasn't as good, there was a weird glitch that froze everyone's hybrid mode and then they practically doubled our score. Ouch. But we went down fighting, and we playing hard.

Back at the pits, there was a sudden change. Our match was going to be replayed because of the hybrid glitch! We were pumped for a second chance, but things didn't go well. We got stuck on the overpass when the Uberbots ran into us in hybrid, then got penalties for another team getting us down, then our radio flew off when we knocked against the Uberbots so our robot was disabled. We lost by an even wider margin.

We stayed after to help clean up the field, which was cool, and then bring home the carpet to store in the house next to the school. The guys were all macho and whatnot, which was pretty entertaining. =] Then it was home and sleep.

All in all, though, it was a good competition. I had a great time coaching with great teammates, we did an amazing job, and we befriended some great teams and people we were allied with.

I can't wait for Atlanta.

--Iona

Why I haven't been posting - Post #254

2008-03-11T19:24:00.000-07:00

CAPTs, CAPTs, CAPTs, tests, school is terrible right now.

Today's schedule, for example:

Period 7: Social Studies - current events quiz
Period 1: CAPTs
Period 2: CAPTs continued
Period 3: Symphonic Band - Opening Nights & John Williams practical quiz
Period 4: Spanish - chapter four test, part one
Period 5: Chemistry - periodic trends quiz
Period 6: Chemistry - quiz continued

Honestly, what are we supposed to be getting from this? For more on my disgust at standardized testing in general, check my newspaper article for the Electronic Eagle, our online student newspaper no one knows about.

Ughhh. I'm going to try and get some sleep before another day of this stuff. Enjoy having a real life.

--Iona

One day until regionals... - Post #253

2008-03-11T18:41:00.000-07:00

Being myself, I tend to be involved with the nerdier of extra curricular activities. Marching band, concert band, jazz band, pit band, every type of band, newspaper, and of course robotics.

The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition is an annual competition for high schools around the country, and the world. Every year, a new game is developed, then revealed in an internet broadcast known as the “kickoff.” For the next six weeks, teams try to plan, design, and build a robot to compete in the game. When this build season is up, the robots are packed up and shipped off until the regional, where the teams uncrate their robot and compete against teams in their area. If they do well, they proceed to the national competition in Atlanta, Georgia.

Robotics has been on my mind a lot lately because this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday is the UTC Connecticut Regional at the Hartford Civic Center. It’s exciting…and terrifying. I logged around 110 hours in the six week building season. All that effort, all those long nights spent searching for the right drill bit or sanding again and again and again, they are all about this one weekend. If we do well, it’s a feeling of pride and satisfaction. If not, it’s bitter disappointment and a struggle to keep a brave face.

Robotics gets a bad rap from a lot of people who don’t know what they’re talking about. After all, building robots and being a fan of futuristic ideas has always been a characteristic of the stereotypical nerd or geek. However, this competition is so much more.

To put it in the words of Dave Lavery, NASA executive for solar system exploration, in his speech at the 2007 Kickoff,

“Over the course of the next six weeks you'll spend 4.2 million brain hours taking apart the problem we are going to give you. 4.2 million brain hours having fun, being passionate, thinking about what you want to do, having a great experience, focusing on something important. 4.2 million hours of brain power. Changing the culture of the United States. Changing the culture of the world. 4.2 million hours of brain power, doing something that has meaning. 4.2 million hours of brain power, and not a single one will be wasted on an irrelevant question like what the hell is Paris Hilton doing right now.”

Needless to say, his words were met with overwhelming applause.

But really, he’s right. FIRST is so much more than geeks building robots. I look at what it’s done for me, and I can see it. Not only did it give me the chance to connect with a guy I liked and have since been dating for almost a year, but it gave me confidence. I can walk into a workshop and feel reasonably confident using the machines. Drills, saws, even simple things like Allen wrenches and screwdrivers. It may seem silly to have this intense pride about knowing these things, but where else would I get this? There are no machines at my house. I have no room in my schedule to take a woodshop class. I have confidence in an entirely new area that I wouldn’t have otherwise.

It also makes talking to people a lot easier. These games the robots compete in aren’t individual. You’re on a team (called an alliance) of three robots, competing against another alliance of three. In the minutes before your match starts, you and your alliance partners have to be able to express clearly your strategies for the game, so everyone can be on the same page and the alliance can really work together as a team. This need for interaction can break even the shyest person out of their shell. Even when you’re building the robot in the beginning, a lot of times if you want to help you have to speak out and say so. Robotics pushes you to learn how to make yourself heard. This skill is important everywhere in life.

As a bonus, the people at the competitions are great. Obviously, robotics is not a club people join to try and raise their social status, so all the people at competitions are genuine, open-minded, and as a whole a great deal of fun to be around. In between matches there is dancing, trading team buttons (I have about forty from last year), and just making friends. Even through scoping out the competition, talking to other teams is sure to lead to an interesting conversation. Last year, a girl from the Uberbots even made me a pair of earrings, just because we’d talked and I mentioned how much I liked hers. FIRST runs on something called “gracious professionalism.” This idea of keeping malice and rudeness out of the competition has resulted in an almost totally friendly setting. The only enemy is the disappointment of loss.

There are four people on the robotics drive team. The driver handles the joystick that moves the robot around on the field. The switch operator handles the switches that, this year, raise or lower the arm and open or close the claw. The robocoach controls the robot with four commands during a fifteen second semi-autonomous mode at the beginning of the match. The coach communicates with all three team members and watches the field to give commands that keep everyone on the same page.

This year, the drive team was going to be Dave Van Fleet as driver, Mitch as switch operator, Andrew Frederickson as robocoach, and Tom Cosgrove as coach, but the SATs got moved to the day of the competition because of a snow day so now Dave can’t go. Mr. Cormier, the lead mentor of the team, moved Tom up to driver, and now the position of coach is open.

He says the spot is down to Tim Wilson, John Martin, and me. We’ll “try out” one last time in the practice rounds before the competition Thursday morning. I’m terrified. I want to be on the drive team so much. I’m just afraid that I’ll make a mistake and cost us the competition.

Tom was going to be the perfect coach. He’s compatible with…well, everybody, he sees everything and has an amazing reaction time, he knows the game, and he posses the incredible ability to stay calm under any circumstances. He would have been perfect.

I don’t have any of that, except maybe the ability to get along with people and the hours I put in. Tim knows the game well and is a senior, but he doesn’t get along with Mitch, he gets angry easily, and he didn’t put in that many hours. John knows the game and put in the hours, but he doesn’t get along with the rest of the team that well and doesn’t vocalize his ideas that clearly. When you have three seconds to get your point across, that becomes important. I don’t know what Mr. Cormier is going to do.

Ideally, I would make the drive team and somehow find inside me the ability to be the perfect coach. I’d coordinate hand signals with Andy across the field, keep Mitch and Tom in line, and help our alliance to victory. We’d place in the top eight for the qualifying rounds, get to pick out two alliance partners for the final, and go on to win the competition.

I’m afraid to hope that much though, because if it doesn’t (and it probably won’t) the feeling of disappointment will be too heartbreaking. It’s easier to aim low and take everything positive as a mildly pleasant surprise.

Every year, probably forty people join Team Max 1071, Wolcott High School’s FIRST robotics team. Maybe fifteen or twenty people end up at the competition. What some may call the “nerd elite,” the are the people who pour their heart into a competition that is encourage strong minds and strong morals, as apposed to just physical strength like most competitions do. I’m proud to be one of them. FIRST robotics is one group, no matter it’s nerdiness, that I will never be ashamed to say I am a part of. It’s not just a competition. It’s a way of looking at life that we will carry into the future, a dream of a world where people can get along through gracious professionalism and join their minds together to think through the planet’s problems. It’s excitement and determination and joy, but it’s also hope.

If that is nerdy, I don’t want to be cool.

--Iona

30 Hour Famine - Post #252

2008-02-10T13:46:00.000-08:00

I did the sermon today at church, for the kid's service following the 30 Hour Famine. Dad wanted me to put it up here...

Let us pray. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and don't lean on your own understanding. In all things acknowledge him, and he shall direct your way. Amen.

As many of you know, this weekend the members of the STAR and J2A classes gave up their Friday and Saturday to fast for a program called World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine. The motto? Be seen, be heard, be hungry. We were sponsored to spend 30 hours without food, raising money to combat world hunger and, in the process, understand a little more of what hunger really is.

How many of us know what it feels like to be truly hungry? I know I don’t. In fact, when Ms. Sewell asked me to give a sermon on world hunger, my first thought was, what am I going to say? How can I talk about something I can’t imagine?

I wasn’t alone. When I went to school Friday and told my friends why I wasn’t eating, they all asked the same questions. Why are you doing this? Why don’t you just eat, and find another way to get the people money?

I don’t know why everyone else who participated decided to fast, but by the end of the 30 hours I knew why I did.

It’s a reminder. It’s a reminder that there are people out there who have no food, that there are people who struggle daily just to stay alive. 29,000 children die every day from preventable diseases, one of which is malnutrition. 29,000. That’s about three quarters of Southington’s population. Every day. These are kids just like the ones we have in this church, living, breathing human beings who aren’t going to get a chance at life simply because they don’t have food.

It’s a wake-up call. When I started the 30 hours, I expected to be hungry. I mean, it is called the 30 hour famine. But what I didn’t expect was the strong desire, before I was hungry, to eat. I wanted food. And that led me to thinking. How often do I eat when I don’t need to, or even eat so much that I feel sick? People often take food for granted, especially children and teenagers who don’t have to provide for themselves yet. The 30 hour famine made me realize what a mistake that is, how much of a gift the energy and comfort of three meals a day really is.

Finally, it’s a motivation to act. We are so lucky to be here together, comfortable, full of food and warm under a roof, that often we forget about those less fortunate than ourselves. We are all children of God, no matter our age or where we live, and it is our responsibility to take care of our brothers and sisters. We have one life, one shot to leave this world a little better than it was when we came into it. Have compassion. Think of the times in your own life when all you needed was someone to help you make it through. Be someone else’s hero.

“Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.” If that’s not as easy as the Bible gets, then I must be reading it wrong. It seems like pretty clear instructions to me. We have the resources and the ability to help change lives, save lives. All we need now is the willpower.

Maybe it’s starting small, like helping the new kid who needs someone to sit with on the bus or the woman who could use a hand with her groceries. Maybe it’s donating your old coats to help someone stay warm this winter. Maybe it’s fasting for 30 hours to try and help even one child get food.

It’s not always easy. Sometimes it’s the frustration of giving up something we have grown accustomed to. Sometimes it’s the fear of stepping out of our comfort zones. Whatever the obstacle, the results will be worth it. I’m only fifteen, but I’ve seen enough people help others to know. The glow on their faces when they see they’ve made a difference speaks more than words. Goodness rewards itself.

I believe in this church. It’s a strong community that’s bringing up a generation of kids willing to donate their Fridays and Saturdays to helping people they’ve never met. That’s something special. So the next time you have to choose between what is right and what is easy, have courage and take the extra step. Donate to a soup kitchen, volunteer to rebuild a broken home, work without looking for a reward. Keep your eyes open for opportunities to do something good. We can change the world, little bit by little bit. It starts right here.

Amen.

Tom came to listen to me read it, which made me happy. =)

The robot's going well. We finished early enough this year that we have enough to take it all apart again and improve (aka fix) everything. Support for the arm, fixing all my wholes, redoing the electronics fifty bajillion times. But it's good. The scrimmage is this Saturday, so we'll see how we really measure up against the other teams.

I've somehow picked up a good five to ten nicknames between band and robotics... Fiona, Smartona, Hiona, Ioboe, Iona Bologna, Iona Used Car, Iona Piece of Broccoli, Plumber, and today I was Minion Number One. Deary me.

I have a billion concert band and jazz band songs to practice, so I'm off for now. Eat happy. <3

--Iona

Theme For English 10 - Post #251

2008-02-07T18:52:00.000-08:00

After reading Langston Hugh's "Theme For English B," our assignment was the same as his (and the only one I've considered worthwhile this year):

"Go home and write
a page tonight.
And let that page come out of you---
Then, it will be true."

Mitch wrote a three page history of his life (single spaced), Jess wrote about the Jonas Brothers, and Bri restarted at least twice. I sat down, and this is what happened.

My middle school yearbook is two years old
Already the pages are wrinkled
And the binding – two staples – is loose
Inside, I see myself in the photos of yesteryear
Forced smiles for group pictures
China teeth in a face of stone
That is what I looked like, but it isn’t me

Flip to the back of the book (careful of the covers)
Five pages of scribbled pen
Like knots, they hold together last goodbyes
Signatures under hasty notes
Have a good summer and I’ll see you next year

But, disorganized mess they are, these are the pages
The ones I turn to to remember
Or to forget
They hold a truth that I hold dear

I am the nerd, the dork, the smart one
Always have been, likely will be
These pages crawl with notes that say so

I trace the names that wrote those words
I know them, but not well
And likewise, they don’t know me
The impression I left was two arms, two legs
One brain, larger than most
And that is how it will remain

But the ones I love seem clueless of that fact
My mind factors little in their memories
Instead, they write of laughter
Of inside jokes and shared struggles
Of moments in time that brought us together

I am the nerd, the dork, the smart one
I’ve been despised for doing what I love
Instead of what is accepted
And sometimes it is hard

But when I doubt myself and forget who I am
I turn again to my middle school yearbook
Flip to the back (careful of the covers)
And with the words of my truest friends
Remember

--Iona

Busy busy busy - Post #250

2008-02-03T16:52:00.000-08:00

Wow, so, I've been kind of INSANELY busy for a while. Let's see...

Robotics is really going well. Last year I was stuck painting the robot's crate, but this year I've built the control board, built and helped wire the electronics panel, and soldered. =) Not to mention drilled a billion holes, used the lathes, made metal waves on a stone grinder, cut everything... It's been a much more eventful season than last year, and it's not even close to over yet. Thirteen days until our first scrimmage!!

What else has been going on... We went to the annual Mardi Gras party at Shawn's church again this year. It was amazing. A bunch of us went dressed up as the Spice Girls, as you can see above. Veronica was Scary Spice in a giant afro wig, Bri was Baby Spice in pigtails and pink, I was Ginger Spice in a red dress and wicked curls, Jess was Posh Spice in black and a pout, Rachel was Sporty Spice in a high ponytail and bright green pants, and Jackie was the manager in a shiny gold dress and jeans.

Shawn's dad is a great DJ. He not only has some hilarious remixes (Jump On It + Who Let the Dogs Out + Last Dance = amazingly funny), but he also randomly starts dancing, which is pretty great.

Other than that, there hasn't been too much to write about. Life's been busy, but pretty repetitive. School is busy but monotonous, chem is chaotic and challenging, and more often than not we're too pressured with studying to find time to hang out. It's pretty awful.

On the other hand, I really really want to make a music video. It's been ages. So I'll probably try and figure something out for that soon. =)

Until then, I'm off to avoid football. Night. =)

--Iona

Trial and Error - Post #249

2007-12-30T10:56:00.000-08:00

I can't imagine life without difficulties. Who can? Issues develop in the form of friends, family, school, jobs, everything. Each goal is masked by challenges, each happiness by tears. But life wouldn't be the same any other way.

Maybe that's the problem with society today. Everyone's trying to get rid of all the little difficulties, just get the shortcut to what you want. Don't exercise to lose weight, just have this pill. Don't read the book, just SparkNote it. Stupidity is not the enemy of the thinking man, but laziness.

It is said that parents of bright children should, while accepting their intelligence, shift the focus and praise instead to hard work and effort. It doesn't matter what you have. It's what you do with it. No one gets a free ride. Cheaters will receive their due, as will those who put into life all they have to offer.

Ehm. I was just thinking that not being able to chew for a couple days makes eating seem miraculous, having fitful, painful nights of sleep make a good rest blissful, and having a face the size of Texas makes even a bruised normal face a gift. I just think too much. =)

I don't want to go back to school. And I miss Tom. =(

--Iona

My 72 Hours Are Up - Post #248

2007-12-29T08:08:00.001-08:00

So, I got two of my wisdom teeth pulled the day after Christmas. The two bottom ones are now history. Thank goodness. I'm definitely not looking forward to getting the two top ones out in three year's time. So, to sum up the past three days...

The fear was really the worst part of the actual operation. I mean, you're in a room with this one big chair, some machines, a heck of a lot of wires, and these two ladies telling you it's going to be okay and asking you questions about your life in a not-so-subtle attempt to distract you. Who wouldn't panic?

So they sit you down in the chair, hook your arm up to a blood pressure thing, stick your finger in another thing, stick three more sensors on to your arms with suction cup things, and hook it all up to a machine that reads your pulse (mine got over 200). They hooked me up to laughing gas before they put the IV in because I was so scared. It was weird. You feel kind of fuzzy. I thought I kept a straight head, but looking back I really didn't. It keeps you from being able to get scared. That's the only way to describe it.

They most weirdly reassuring part? Someone in there, or a product of my gassed up mind, sounded like Ms. Temme, and that really made me feel better. Like, "It's okay, I trust her, she knows what she's doing, she's smart." Apparently, when I was coming around, I told this to my dad like eight times (hence his comment on the previous post). I am such a head case. Really.

I don't remember waking up, driving home, much of that day at all, really. I can remember crying into my dad's chest in the kitchen because my lip was so numb and swollen I had to pull it open with my finger to try and swallow a painkiller.

I could hardly speak. I couldn't eat. My face was swollen and bruised, and my lips were dry and cracked beyond belief. I drooled blood all over the place, my nights were a tormented blur of pain, heat pads, and calling out for my parents. I couldn't stand too quickly without passing out.

I passed the time watching Bleach (Jess's anime...156 episodes...after four days I'm on 56. That's 28 hours of Japanese. o.O), coloring (yes, in coloring books, it's pretty calming), and trying to sleep.

I moved from water, to milkshakes, to pudding, to mashed potato, to being able to chew a little macaroni. It should be easier to get better from here.

I'm going to go watch more Bleach, I think. Only 100 episodes to go... =P

--Iona

Christmas: Merry vs. Scary - Post #247

2007-12-25T14:12:00.000-08:00

Ah. Okay. Some catching up.

Thursday was crazy, the second to last day before vacation crammed as expected with five tests in seven periods. The band concert that night went well, though. My oboe solo in And To All A Good Night wasn't awful, and even got complemented by Matt Bellemare (that's really something). Then jazz band was AWESOME, especially We Three Kings. I played that one on my own, without Dan or Tyler. I had to practice for literally hours to get it, but I did! And in my own opinion, it sounded pretty fabulous.

It was a good Friday, because in chemistry we sang chem carols (The Chemistry Teacher is Coming to Town, I'm Dreaming of a White Precipitate, you get the idea) and plated the inside of test tubes silver. We got little furry moles wearing safety goggles for singing with such enthusiasm. She said we were the most energetic class she'd ever done it with. =)

After school we had the band party. We all watched my halftime show video, and everyone seemed to like it, then we ate massive amounts of pizza and watched the latest Harry Potter. Ari gave me a Christmas present, a Pirates of the Caribbean Mickey Mouse pin that I wore on my jeans all day. =)

That night was Rachel's third annual Christmas party. Yay! She was my Secret Santa, and got me an oboe shirt from the MAC championships, a Myrtle Beach shirt from when she went there over April vacation, frog socks, and a pen dude. Cat got me a present too - Christmas socks, lotion, candy cane Hershey Kisses (so weird, yet so awesome), a picture frame, an etch-a-sketch, so much awesome random stuff. =P

then Saturday was the Cosgrove's Christmas party, so I went with Tom to that and got to meet some of his family. They're really smart. It was a lot of food and CatchPhrase. They do this cute grab-bag thing with strings and a blanket, and I got to do it too, even though I didn't bring anything. I got a photo keychain and some chocolate and popcorn. It was fun.

After the party, Tom and I left and he gave me my Christmas present, a gorgeous silver heart necklace that I love to pieces and kind of haven't taken off yet. =) It's perfect.

The day after, I went with Tom to Tim's to watch Serenity with Diana, Bellemare, and their friends Koz and Olga. That was fun. The movie was good, and we got to make fun if the guys for completely missing the fact that one of the girls was crazy about one of the guys. Afterwards I have Tom his present, which he seemed to like, and said goodbye, as he is going to Florida for the rest of vacation. =(

Yesterday I play the second Harry Potter game with Calum for about two hours, then acolyted and read at the Christmas Eve service at church. Pepere came back to the house for a while, then it was time to sleep.

this morning, we woke up and opened stockings on the parentals' bed as always. I got some cool stuff, three coloring books, colored pencils and crayons, a shower radio, the Wicked soundtrack, PotC3 movie and calender, new goggles, some Bath & Body stuff, lots of chocolate, a Santa hat, and a clementine. How Arthur Dent.

As for regular presents, I got an iPod Classic (it's gorgeous), some ringtones for my phone, a sheet saying we ordered the Twilight bracelet (<3), an Indian bracelet, and an iTunes giftcard. Calum got a Wii, so there's been fun with that as well.

Pepere, Uncle JD, Janica, Aurora, and MaryJo came for dessert as well, so that was good.

So...the whole "scary" thing...I'm getting two of my wisdom teeth pulled tomorrow morning. just thinking about it gives me a stomach ache. I've been doing research. Mine aren't impacted, which is good, but now I'm really scared I'll get dry socket, which is when the holes get infected. It's apparently one of the most painful things possible. I guess it's good to get it done now, when I don't have to be in school and Tom is in Florida and can't see me looking like a chipmunk, but I'm still scared. I want to get a pill or something before I get an IV, so that the needle doesn't scare me, then get knocked out, and then have lots and lots of pain medication. Ughh. I'm scared.

My own personal plan is this. You know how when you have a stomach ache in the middle of the day it really hurts and all you want to do is go to sleep so you don't have to deal with it anymore? I'm getting my teeth pulled at nine tomorrow morning, right after I wake up, so I'm going to get as little sleep tonight as I get manage. That way, it should be easier to fall asleep when I get home. I kind of wish I was getting all four over and done with, but whatever.

Seven o'clock. Five hours left that I can eat, fourteen until they're pulled. Okay. I can't do this.

Looking for distractions.

--Iona

Ten Year of Dad's Christmas Letters - Post #246

2007-12-11T18:44:00.000-08:00

Iona is 5 and has started school, sheis in kindergarten (= primary 1) at Frisbee Elementary School. She has a great teacher and is really enjoying it. Her day is so crammed full of things to do and learning opportunities that she is exhausted by the time she gets home. Her number skills are coming on well as is her handwriting and she is starting to read. By the time you get this she will have lost her first tooth. Outside school she goes to gymnastics and storytime at the library.

Iona is now 6 and in first grade. She has been blessed with another wonderful teacher. She is reading everything and loves to bring home books to read to Calum. Along with Mishy, she has joined the Brownies. She enjoys singing in the kids choir at church and is actually tuneful now on her violin. She is now swimming in the deep end much to her parents angst. Along with Calum she loves to kick her Dad off the computer and play Freddi Fish or on the PBS web site.

Iona is now 7 and enjoying second grade at Frisbee School here in Wolcott. Both she and Calum seem to have more active lives than their parents. They both played soccer this autumn, with Justin helping out with a bit of coaching and Iona has just started basketball. Iona’s violin playing is progressing well and she has played in a couple of concerts at her music school and at church. On top of this she takes swimming lessons, just completed a drawing class and is a Brownie.

Iona (aged 10) has taken up piano as well as violin, though she is even better at playing her parents is now in her final year in elementary school and thriving on the opportunities that affords.

Iona has taken the major step this year of moving up to Middle School (for three years before four years of high school). She loves it and all her teachers seem to be enjoying her. She is definitely more challenged there and also has the opportunity for more activities such as the writing and computer clubs that she joined. She has joined the school band in which she is playing the oboe. She plays the piano at home having taken a break from the violin. Outside school, she has joined a local swimming team. This has proved a huge success and Iona really enjoys competing against herself and trying to improve her times. This summer Iona seemed to spend more time away from us than she did with us. As well as spending a week at summer camp she also spent a week on Cape Code with a friend and her family.

Iona is 12 and in her second of three years at Tyrell Middle School. This year she has become involved with a number of extracurricular clubs including Writing, Social Studies, and Character Counts Clubs. Iona swims and swims and swims with the Southington YMCA Stingrays. This had been a very literary year for her. As well having a poem published in a multi-state anthology, she was selected to be one of two student judges for this year’s Nutmeg Children’s Book Award (www.biblio.org/nutmegaward). This involves her having to read and review about 140 books over the next year. You can keep up to date with Iona’s happening by check out her blog: iownapieceofbroccoli.blogspot.com.

Iona is in her last year at middle school (she’s 13). She’s been playing the oboe for the last couple of years, but wanted to be able to be in the High School marching band which has no oboes. We were preparing ourselves for the torture of starting a new instrument when a new solution was found. She’ll play oboe in the orchestra and base drum in the band (one go at We Will Rock You convinced her!). The easiest way to keep up with Iona is to read her blog (address below). It beats mine which is generally work related and Calum’s which focuses on toilet humour (if he actually writes!). Outside school Iona is doing a lot of swimming, including a solid week this summer, it was rather depressing when I tried to race her recently and lost hopelessly!

This is Iona’s freshman year at Wolcott High School (she’s 14) and she is loving it. She always seems to be doing something there after school. Up to now it has mainly been Marching Band where she plays the bass drum, but it could also be orchestra (oboe), or robotics, or who knows what else! She’s also swimming at the YMCA and preparing for a pilgrimage with her church group next summer to Cumbrae, Scotland.

My how things have changed...

--Iona

AHHHHHHH!!!!!! - Post #245

2007-12-10T18:00:00.000-08:00

I DID IT!!!! AHHHHH!!!!

A recap may be necessary, due to a recent lack of postage.

--Flashback--
We see a girl, nervously attending her first jazz band meeting. She's new on the saxophone, only had it for two weeks, and doesn't have a clue why she's trying this except that she's crazy about a certain drummer over thataways. But we all know that.

Anywho, they're practicing out on the stage, and as she sits under the lights and struggles through the songs reading off Scaryman's music, she feels the magic of jazz sweep over her like the warmth of the sun on a cool morning. She feels alive. Here is a challenge, something she can work at and improve in, the challenge school just isn't giving her. Here is something to believe in.

Cut to a week later. She struggling, but loving it. She's putting in the time and the work, and she's improving, if only a little. Her teacher says she's crazy to try jazz band after three weeks, but she says she just likes it, doesn't hope to get anywhere. Still, when Mr. Duffman announces there will be tryouts, she's crushed. There's no way she can beat the other second alto, and no way she'd want to. He's a senior. She has no chance.

But still, she does her best, going over and over the two assigned pieces until her lips are dry and chapped and her fingers numb and sore. Her eyes tear with frustration. Where is the sudden rush of talent that comes in the movies? The sudden fast forward to excellence, to success? Curse reality!

The day comes. The audition. Her, the senior alto, and little Jerry. Of course, she has to play first. First, it's just with the rhythm section - the drums, bass, and guitar. Essentially a solo. Her mouth goes dry and her palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy (heh, moving on), and she struggles through. It's not perfect, shaky, bad tone, and she messes up a lot, but she makes it through. Then again, with Mr. Scaryman, the first alto. This is better, she's good backing up someone else.

Things could be made slightly better by the manila folder and pencil sign her drummer holds up from his corner of the room. "U ROCK."

Then the senior alto goes, blows them all away as expected, and Jerry, who's hardly been playing long enough to count, but who gives an amazing show for the amount of time he had.

Then the announcement from the Mr. Duffman. "I'm going to take Mr. Scaryman, Ms. Tenor Sax, and Mr. Bass out into the piano room to deliberate. I'll tell you this much." A glance straight at the girl. "I do not like to double up on parts. But there are a lot of options. I'll be back."

They leave. Time passes slowly. She's resigned herself to failure, but is okay with that. She put forth a noble effort, most would say. Perhaps a little too ambitious.

They get called in. Mr. Scaryman, Ms. Tenor Sax, and Mr. Bass are gone. Mr. Duffman looks seriously over the top of his glasses, and tells them the story. The senior sax's tone was amazing, in fact, he overpowered Mr. Scaryman. Because of his talent for saxophone, he is going to pick up baritone saxophone for the winter concert, then be granted first alto for the spring, a very challenging but impressive position. he is satisfied. Little Jerry will be playing clarinet, his native instrument, on two pieces in the winter, and has a shot at the baritone in the spring.

He turns on the girl. She doesn't dare to hope, but the words somehow some out of his mouth. She will be playing second alto for the winter concert, and the spring one as well. It will take work, but she balances Mr. Scaryman and later the senior alto adequately.

She leaves the room in a daze, is hardly able to tell her drummer, bounces back into the band room (getting a disturbed half-smile from Mr. Scaryman), and is on a cloud. She can't believe it. She did it.

---End Flashback---

Um. Yeah. I can't believe it either. Like...holy crap. I did it. This is going to take SO much work, but I did it.

Jazz band...

<3

--Iona

We're Missing You - Post #244

2007-11-21T18:11:00.000-08:00

Ending #1: Pastor Terry and Mr. Wysong are leaving us.

We had their goodbye party at church and I cried. A lot. Through our whole presentation. We're going to miss them so much.

Pastor Terry who, under the formal appearance, could throw out comebacks like no one else, who threatened us with an hour long sermon if we didn't shut up and go to sleep at Camp Washington, who led us through so many hard times and happy times, who understood that we need to laugh as much as we need to pray.

Mr. Wysong, with his big happy smile, who told the same story over and over about the fish that eats too much and floats upside down looking like its dead, who got all excited about the wheel-less lawnmower called a FlyMo we saw in Scotland, who was always, always there for us. I don't know what St. Paul's will do without them. I don't know what I'll do.

Ending #2: The marching season is over.

It ended the same way it's gone - we did our little cheer thing and Tim and Tyler yelled "Boom headshot" and we all got to do pushups. Anticlimactic? A tad. But that's how life works, I guess.

There was a final marchoff between the four marchoff winners. I couldn't watch, I peeked up between commands. First off was Dan...then Dori and Tom...no wait! Tom walked off by mistake, he was still in. The Brea... Tom won! Humble guy he is, just stood there smiling slightly as we got absolutely tackled by half the band. I don't think it's possible to not like Tom. He's one of the few in the band who doesn't rag on people, doesn't get mad, doesn't make you feel like crap. I'm so, so glad he won.

But I'm gonna miss these guys. All the seniors...Tom, Tim, Brea, Dan, Katie, Cat, Andrea, Tyler, Ray, all of them. I can't imagine what it will be like when they're gone. Then there's the people who are tired of all the crap...Jess, Tyler, Shawn, Caruso...who don't think they'll come back next year. Who's left? Things aren't going to be the same. Ever.

They say every ending is just a new beginning, but not for me. I don't like endings. Too much sadness. I miss everyone already. =(

--Iona

Without Music, Life Would Bb - Post #243

2007-11-11T09:57:00.000-08:00

Life's been pretty busy, hence the lack of posts. Sorry about that. Between band, chemistry, Tom, and friends, I find myself with less and less time to post. I'll work on that.

Band is awesome. We went to watch the Musical Arts Conference, a big marching band competition, and it was amazing. My favorite was a high school band who had a drumline in kilts and white shoes (the rest of the band had black shoes and normal uniforms) and were doing their show. Then their movement shifted about ten people in kilts who had previously been randomly scattered around the section to the front. They but down their instruments (a saxophone, a flute, a trombone...) and picked up bagpipes. The whole band stopped playing and were doing an awesome formation in the background while the drumline and bagpipes did their piece. It was brilliant.

UConn played too, and they were amazing. Their band is GIGANTIC! I want to be in a college band so badly! I really hope I get to. I can't even imagine...

So that was a fun trip. Rachel and Tom and so much music merchandise, I spent a good five minutes wishing I was rich. I got a music charm bracelet and a button that says Treble Maker (Rachel's said Musicians Duet Better). It was great. Freezing? Very. But definitely great.

Marching band is going well, but we only have two practices until Thanksgiving, and we still haven't run the whole show!! We finished Part Three with music finally, and we (we = the snares) did amazingly. As soon and Tyler remembers he's on the hash for the last set, we'll be perfect. I adore my section. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't. It makes band so much better.

We started getting our Christmas music for concert band, which is good. I missed my oboe. It's fun...when I play. Darn oboe gets so much rest! That's what happens when you play such a...umm..."unique" instrument.

And finally...I joined jazz band! Or, more correctly, I'm attempting to join jazz band. Whether or not Mr. Duffy will let me stay is yet to be seen. The style of music is so different, and I've only been playing the instrument for about two months, so it's quite a challenge and I'm not sure if I can pull it off, but it's worth a shot. I love having so much music to practice.

And there's a lot of people I like in jazz band. Tom's there, obviously, which instantly makes it amazing, but then there's CJ and Tyler (my marching section), Jerry (the freshman clarinet who's learning to play the baritone saxaphone, and it's almost as big as he is), Dan Cameron is way nicer than I thought he was (he got me all my music), Adam (he's just always nice, and amazing to watch play piano), and Andy (who is just Andy, and thus helpful). I really want to do this. It seems so awesome.

Tom won a marchoff! it was only maybe the third one this year, and he won, and I was very happy. It's his last year and I don't think he's ever won one before, and he won, and I was happy, and Tim and Tyler started dancing.

Without music, life would most definitely Bb.

--Iona

The Golden Compass - Post #242

2007-11-09T13:55:00.000-08:00

The book by Phillip Pullman was good, though I never read the third book in the series, and now The Golden Compass is coming out as a movie! Definitely going to see this one, so matter how low it's rated. The website has this cool quiz to see what daemon you would have. I like mine a lot. Go take it and let me know what you got. =)

--Iona

I'm Still Here - Post #241

2007-11-05T18:39:00.000-08:00

Yeah, it's been a while. And I totally missed my third anniversary of blogging - as of October 17th I've been here for three years. Weird stuff, huh?

Basically, life's been pretty busy, so I've been crashing at the end of the day and honestly, who wants to read a crashy blog post? They're all depressing and whatnot.

So...life. Basically, band and chemistry are my favorite classes. Band...I mean, music, Tom, Rachel, Gizzy the freshman flute, Dani the freshman clarinet and her senior pit player Andrea, my beat boxing snare buddies CJ and Tyler, and then all the folks from last year. We have fun.

Chemistry is AMAZING. Ms. Temme, though very strict and opinionated, is an amazing teacher. I love having a teacher who I actually respect, who actually teaches, and who is actually intimidating. They're pretty rare. We're doing awesome labs in there too, all sorts of mixing chemicals and burning things and changing colors. We learned a bunch of elements and decided that 'Oxygen Magnesium!' serves the same purpose as 'Omigod!' (With abbreviations OMg and OMG.)

She also does a thing called seminar where she calls a person in the class, gives them one of the homework problems, and has them defend it. If they get it right, that's an 85. Then they get a second question related to the first that they haven't had time to prepare for. If they get that right as well, they get full credit - a 96. It's quite terrifying, but I prefer it so much rather than the monotony of some of my classes. (These will remain unnamed.)

What else? I'm learning saxophone with relative ease, though switching between it and oboe is a chore. Oboe is going well also. The piece I'm attempting to learn to play is probably the most challenging so far. It's what I would have played if I was good enough to try out for CMEAs.

Halloween was okay this year - hanging out at Jackie's with a billion people. Bill made me laugh. That what the picture's from.

Basically, I'm posting tonight because tomorrow is Election Day, so no school. It's a massive relief and I'm actually in a pretty good mood. I'm also updating ionabrockie.com, so take a look. I like it. Heh, after almost a year I still need to figure out what to do with it!! I want something impressive. But what?

I'm probably going to go back to doing that now, along with singing to my iTunes (Code Monkey and Omigod You Guys) but I swear I'll post more often. =) See you soon!

--Iona

A Whole New World - Post #240

2007-10-13T18:09:00.000-07:00

It's been a while, hasn't it? Life's been weird, no other way to describe it. Today was UMass. I liked it. I feel much better about my snare-related ability now, in comparison, and about the kids in my line. CJ and Tyler are great, they really are. Especially considering one's an egotistic drama queen and the other's a immature freshman, if we were to stick with stereotypes anyways. They're both pretty cool kids.

I got an amazing sweatshirt, and I got to see Tom all day. =) I mean really, these are the good things in life. He's coming to church with me tomorrow...I really hope he's not bored. Visiting other people's churches is always awkward.

So I'm sitting here, avoiding all the things I have to do to get ready for tomorrow, talking to Tom's friend online about saxophones (I have one now), playing Spider Solitaire (I'm awful but it's pretty amusing), and listening to music (The Songs That Saved My Life by Kill Hannah). I'm thirsty. =P

Going to go edit these things now. More tomorrow maybe. Bye!

--Iona

And One For Scott - Post #239

2007-09-21T12:19:00.000-07:00

You're not a poor imitation of a godfather. =) How many people's godfathers can use a computer, let alone check up on their godkid's blog? Or comment. Besides, I don't really know what godkids are supposed to do anyways. =) So thanks for dropping by. The support is greatly appreciated. I think I'm writing an article for the school newspaper about the grades vs. love learning thing. Thanks, I'm glad you like the picture. Editing them entertains me, as does reading. And don't worry about the math - one step at a time, and anything is easy to deal with.

Game tonight! Should be good. It's really hot out right now, not looking forward to wearing the helmets. I should go finish getting ready, sorry for the shortness. =)

Paramore = love.

--Iona

I Fell In Love, In Love With You Suddenly - Post #238

2007-09-18T13:01:00.000-07:00

Today was weird. A lot of it was depressing, and some bits were happy. Tom was very out of it when I saw him this morning, then completely MIA for band class. I found out later he went home sick first period. And in one little way it was good. I'm terrified to talk to him on the phone. I'm afraid I won't hear him or I'll say something dumb or I won't know what to say at all. But not seeing him in school made me call him. And I didn't die. it was still really short, but I think I'll try and call him more. I'd love to be able to talk to him on the phone for ages and ages, but I'm scared to. No idea why. It's just so much easier in person.

I love my brother to pieces. There was a spider crawling on my wall and he came and caught it for me. =)

Band tonight was amazing. And weird. And unproductive. We videotaped the cadence (it's on YouTube) and that was fun. But we didn't get much done. Oh well. =)

--Iona

Life, and Stuff - Post #237

2007-09-17T15:12:00.000-07:00

It's rather hard to post when you're overloaded with homework and the only free time you have is at night, when the day has collapsed on you and you're depressed whether or not it was an amazing day.

Band is a struggle. Everyone's all grr and snare is harder and I have issues when I can't get things right.

School is a struggle. Math...I'm behind in my notes and homework because I'm redoing them. I can't take her notes anymore. They don't help anything at all. I'm behind in chem (BAD) because of math, and I've got a massive English project to do. It's so hard to stay motivated in school when it revolves around grading and grading is subjective anyways, so what's the point? My dad was right. School should be about motivating you to want to continue learning for the rest of your life, not making you lose hope in ever enjoying facts ever again.

Life is a struggle. I miss Rachel being happy. My mom's one messed up little chickadee. I miss my dad. I still like Tom far too much to be healthy.

Things to look forward to? I'm so ready to go back to swim team, even if I can only do it once a week. I need to get back into shape. I need to hurt. I need to be physically exhausted. I need to feel like crap and have Kevin believe in me again. I need to believe in myself. Right now that's out of the question.

You are the one, the one that lies close to me.
Whispers, "Hello, I miss you quite terribly."
I fell in love, in love with you suddenly.
Now there's nowhere else I could be, but
Here in your arms.

Gabi gave me that CD today, so no need to steal in from Danica. I blared it from my CD player and forgot everything.

--Iona

I'm An Idiot - Post #236

2007-09-10T20:19:00.000-07:00

Had a mild heart attack tonight when I wrote a song and sent it to Tom. Luckily, Danica was there for me.

Me: im hyperventilating
Danica: don't
Danica: calm
Danica: deep breath

And so was Sarah.

Me: im dead
Sarah: CLEAR

So here it is. Hope you like it.

There’s a whisper of rain on the ground
And every time I hear that sound
I think of all the things I’ve found
Since I found you
I’m wishing I could see your face
But you’re somewhere in another place
A distance of heart and space
I just can’t get through

I thought that they were all the same
An old story with a brand new name
And then out of the dark you came
Now my world is shaking
My heart was always on the run
Never thought that I would be the one
But to my little planet you’re the sun
My reality’s breaking

When I’m with you it’s all so clear
I wish you were here

I’ll run into your arms, with you I am strong
Like everything’s okay
Hold on to me tight, hold me through the night
Hear me when I say
I think I love you, is that okay?

And now every morning starts anew
I wake up knowing I’ll see you
It’s so perfect it just can’t be true
I’m living a dream now
So softly you hold my hand
I’m falling for you like quicksand
And I slowly I understand
That sometime, somehow

When I’m with you there’s nothing to fear
I wish you were here

I’ll run into your arms, with you I am strong
Like everything’s okay
Hold on to me tight, hold me through the night
Hear me when I say
I think I love you, is that okay?

I’ll run into your arms, with you I am strong
Like everything’s okay
Hold on to me tight, hold me through the night
Hear me when I say
I think I love you, is that okay?
If I told you I loved you, what would you say?
I think I love you, is that okay?

--Iona

Clam Jam - Post #235

2007-09-09T12:50:00.000-07:00

The robotics team was "volunteering" at the Clam Jam today. Basically, Nick, Jess, Zack, Mr. Cormier, Paige, Claire, Tim, Tom and me hung out down there, made sure the kids in the bouncy house and with the hula hoops and jumpropes and things, and fooled around. Claire, Paige, and I got our faces painted. Why? Don't know, but the sparkles won't come off.

We played volleyball with a giant inflatable soccer ball, did the cotton-eyed Joe, colored on the tablecloth, took photos, ate food, generally just fooled around. It was a nice morning.

Now I have history, geometry, and chemistry homework. I've started everything, but nothing's done.

I really like the band Paramore. Not only do they have a great female singer who isn't a ditz and can really sing, but she's pretty in a normal sort of way.

I don't understand this math.

Oh. Nevermind, I'm just an airhead.

I think I'll go outside. There's a chance I'll get to do something fun tonight, but it's growing slimmer by the second.

Dad, I need two pictures off my camera by Friday. Is that possible? The email didn't work.

--Iona

Keep on Keeping On - Post #234

2007-09-08T13:22:00.001-07:00

It's been a while, huh? School's started, and it's okay. English is the same as last year, S.S. has some current events for a nice change, math is tedious, Spanish is pretty typical, chemistry with the infamous Temme should be a ride. But I do have symphonic band as a class, which really makes my day.

Band's going pretty crazily. I feel pretty confident playing snare now, and I have Tommy - Part One memorized, but the fieldwork is rough. Playing and marching is just as hard as ever, and though the beginning of drill went fine, when we practiced on the back field today I felt rather lost. Then again, it was boiling hot and 9 in the morning. That might count for something.

I added that map up there just now, and I've already got somebody from California. That's pretty cool. I want somewhere radical, like Zimbabwe. But California's a start. =)

I lost the CD to install a program on my phone, so I'm trying to get photos off it by sending them in a "Pix Message" to my email address. No sign on if it's worked yet. I doubt it.

I have so much to do...and I don't feel like doing ANY of it. Don't come, Monday...

--Iona

Eh. - Post #233

2007-08-31T20:12:00.000-07:00

I is missing Vinnie. I is feeling lonely and depressive and Tom is sleeping over his cousin's house and Jason is emo and Ryan's blog is all Danica flirty and Danica's blog is all Bill flirty and life is not too smiley when you can't even leave a comment anywhere. School is okay. English is a small class and our same old teacher, math is tedious and the teacher has a monotone, band is amazing, Spanish has a sweet teacher but annoying kids, chemistry has a sub for now, and social studies looks promising but it's not my favorite subject. I like getting rides home with Tom and seeing him in the morning and in band. I just miss hanging out with him.

I wants a hug.

So I'll sit here at half past twelve, pawing my way through digg.com like I have been as of late, talking to Bellemare, and generally feeling lousy.

Sleep.

--Iona