I wish I could stop ranting..

I'm a senior. This means a lot of things. You would think that it would mean added responsibility and maturity, but in reality, it does not.



Many of my peers spend their weekends partying. Drugs, alcohol and other kinds of bad behavior are a regular part of their life. "But you're only young once," many say. Yes this is true, but I believe Eleanor Roosevelt said it best when she said,

"Learn from the mistakes of others.

You can't live long eough to make them all yourself."

Yeah I like to have a good time, but I don't need to be under the influence of anything to do that. I actually think its sad that so many kids can't have fun without drugs and alcohol.

A lot of my close friends are in this categry of partiers. I know that it is ultimately their decision, but I still don't agree with it. I feel out of place because I don't want to do these things. My parents always tell me "Oh you're just more mature. It's a good thing." But what fun is being the only one when all of your friends are out and about without you. I would never let this "left out" feeling lead me to drink or use drugs, but it is just disappointing when good friends want to party instead of hang out with me.

I just don't understand. For instance, a girl in the senior class had alcohol posioning last weekend and it really scared everyone with her. I was told by one girl there that she was soo scared to party again. This morning in the hall however, I heard her say she didn't want to be the designated driver again. Great.

I wish I wouldn't rant about this so much because I know that it is a never-ending battle. I just miss days where having fun meant going outside to play, or going rollerskating. Here is a list of how to have fun, the real way.

1. Go glow bowling on a friday night with a fun group of friends.

2. Have a dinner and a movie night. Get some fresh pizza dough and make pizzas with crazy toppings on them. Then watch a silly movie with it.

3. Go to the batting cages. I did this last weekend and it was actually fun. And then go get ice cream like you just won your baseball game.

4. Make something sparkle. Coer converse in sequins, or bedazzle a headband. Something to add a little fun!

5. Have a campfire. Cookout, and sing songs and just talk.

6. Slip-n-slide. This is great once its warm. Warning: do not try to use vegetable oil on it. It is not as great of and idea as it sounds.

7. Plan a trip somewhere. Hershey Park, a bus trip to New York, a local park-- anything really.

8. Try a new type of resturant. Indian, Thai, Vietamese or just somewhere new.

9. Play outside games. Capture the flag, flashlight tag, Manhunt, boce ball, crochet or even volleyball.

10. Go to a diner and order lots of delicious fried food and pancakes and just hang out with friends.

11. Laser tag

There are like 439820398402398409238049 other things to do but those are just a few ideas.

Carly

Carly. That's my sister. Her and I have had a lot of good times along with some rough times. But, she has gone through so much with me, and I love having her as an older sister. We love music. We're always listening to it, singing, playing singstar..you name it. I was flipping through itunes and realized how music reminds me of people and places all the time. Here's a little list for you Carly, of all the songs we have loved, hated, and sang together.

1. The Call Out- Hit The Lights

There's a part at the beginning that we always tried to say in one breath and finally could!

2. The Snake Song- Billy Gilman

Carly and I loved Billy's country music. It was just too good. We knew every song. This was one of our favorites to sing together.

3. As If- Blaque

This song was on the original Bring It On. We watched that movie so much. Its actually ridiculous.

4. How's It Going to Be- Third Eye Blind

Now talk about a story. One day my mother wanted us to find a song for her. Problem was, she didn't know what it was called, who it was by, or even how it went. Somehow, we found it. It was truly a funny and bizarre situation.

5. War In Your Bedroom- A Change of Pace

We had so many conversations based around this song. She thought I didn't know what it was about, when in reality its obvious.

6. Stand Up- Ludacris

I remember being on vacation with my family when this song was popular. Carly and I of course made up a dance to it.

7. Mrs. Robinson- Simon & Garfunkle

Car went through a major Simon and Garfunkle phase two summers ago.

8. We Shall Be Free- Garth Brooks

Oh Garth.. I remember Carly making me listen to his music all the time. I hated it at first, but I hate to admit, he grew on me. This was my favorite.

9. Cute Without the E- Taking Back Sunday

She used to/still does sing this song ALL THE TIME.

10. Wondering- Good Charlotte

We loved them.

11. Temperature- Seam Paul

Airplane. This song. Carly dancing. Enough said

12. Chicago is so two years ago- Fall Out Boy

We were in a Chicago airport for hours and this song came on. We thought it was perfect.

13. Luckie St.- Cartel

Another one of our favorite bands. This cd was always playing in the car when we went anywhere.

14. Crushcrushscrush- Paramore

Okay. I always find songs I really like. Carly starts listening to them. She makes us play them until I hate them. This is one. I refuse to listen to it with her. I refer to it as one of the songs "you ruined". ha

15. Black Cat- Mayday Parade

We sang this a lot.

16. Jude Law and a Semester Abroad- Brand New

Not sure why, but it reminds me of her.

17. Over You-Acceptance

We actually had a huge fight over this song. Long story, but I got punched at one point.

18. Band-Cellophane Girl- Graham Colton

Carly gave me this song a couple months ago. Its fantastic.

19. Anastasi Soundtrack

We sang these songs together. Especially At the Beginning.

I love my sister!

Soundtrack to my childhood

Have you ever been somewhere and suddenly a song comes on and it reminds you of your childhood? I love those moments. Here's a little list I compiled of songs that remind me of being a kid because my parents played them around the house and what not.

1. Tainted Love- Soft Cell

They played this song at the playground that I went to when I was in elementary school. Good stuff

2. Your Wildest Dreams- The Moody Blues

I remember listening to this song on the way to the Outer Banks in the car with my mom.

3. Return to Pooh Corner- Kenny Loggins

I can honestly say that I love this song. It hits home and makes me long for those days of being a little kid.

4. Tusk- Fleetwood Mac

This was my FAVORITE song as a kid. My mom always tells a story about this song. Story goes that we were at the library and all the kindergarden kids (including myself) went around a circle saying their favorite song. All of the kids were along the lines of The Itsy Bitsy Spider or the Barney theme song. But not little Katie Hinish. I proudly said "Tusk! by Fleetwood Mac" and all of the parents stared at me and my mother.

5. Staying Alive- Bee Gees

I remember my sister and I loving this song. We would try to sing just like them, but often just sounded ridiculous.

6. Copperline- James Taylor

Anything by James Taylor reminds me of being a kid. My dad was always playing his music during car rides and my sister and I would pick our favorites.

Music is in the air

Ten songs I currently like a lot

1. Crazy- Alanis Morisette

2. Shut Your Eyes- Snow Patrol

3. Feelings Show-Colbie Calliet

4. Day Light- Coldplay

5. Heartbreak Warfare- John Mayer

6. Good Ol' Fashioned Nightmare- Matt & Kim

7. Scarborough Fair- Simon and Garfunkle

8. Traffic In the Sky- Jack Johnson

9. Fool to Think- Dave Matthews Band

10. Always- Blink 182

"I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person."

Audrey Hepburn

Golf, fishing, and picnics

"Laugh until your cheeks hurt"

Five things I want to do soon...

1. Go fishing. I have never done this and I just really want to. I am picturing sitting in a canoe in the middle of a stream and just relaxing all day.

2. Mini golf. My dad used to take me mini golfing all the time when I was little. It brings back good memories of being a kid.

3. Go to an auction. I am fascinated by anything old so I would love to go to one just to see everything.

4. Have a picnic in the woods. I'm talking wooden basket full of goodies with a checkered picnic cloth/blanket and all.

5. Go to New York City on the china bus and spend the entire day in the city wandering into small shops and cafes, just enjoying the city and whatever it may bring.

My job for you: Do something silly, or fun!

A word is not dead

"Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people."

Eleanor Roosevelt

Alright you have all been in this situation. You are either with a group of people or just a friend. A nice conversation is going on and all of a sudden the topic turns to another person. "Did you hear that so and so did this?"

Thats it. You've entered into a dead end street. You have two choices turn around drive away fast or continue into a direction of no return.

What I'm saying is, you can either join in with the other person, or you can end the bashing. Many people feel uncomfortable sticking up for the person or telling the person talking to stop, but this "fear" needs to be overcome.

Now put yourself in this situation. You have just found out terrible things that a close friend has been saying behind your back. That aching pain in the pit of your stomach is just the beginning. It makes you upset or mad and makes you start to lose trust in that friend. This is why we all need to take a moment or two and think before we talk. Once you say something, its out in the open to be repeated. As Emily Dickenson one poem goes:

A word is dead

When it is said,

Some say.

I say it just

Begins to live

That day.

Basically this poem is saying, once you say something you can never take it back. So think about how you would feel if the same things were being said about you. If you think it would be upsetting, its probably not something you should say outloud.

My job for all of us: Try not to speak rude words about others, instead, give out compliments and smiles.

Forty days

"Try to keep smiling. Get a little rock and roll on the radio, and go toward all the life there is with all the belief you can find and all the truth you can muster. Be true. Be brave. Stand. All the rest is darkness."

Stephen King's IT

There are forty days left of my high school career. I can't decide if I'm excited, scared, or upset. It's probably safe to say that its a mixture of all three. For myself, high school is stability. Having my parents around to provide anything I need. Once I go to college, sure I will not be living on my own, but it's one step closer to complete responsibility. That scares me.

Friends are a big part of general happiness. I love all of my friends and come fall, we will all be off to start on our new journeys, alone. There will be no more hanging out everyday after school. No more trips to Hershey Park during school and getting caught by all the teachers. I will miss all of my friends so much. I know that college will bring on a new group of friends, but its hard to just leave the old ones behind.

Singing is another part of high school that was really shaped my personality. It has helped me to become confident, and to be accountable for what is expected. Choir, ensemble, festival choirs, and singing at basketball games are just a few groups I participated in. It will be strange to not be singing music with the same group of people I have been singing with since sixth grade. I know that music will always be a strong area of interest in my life, but I also know that it will never be quite the same as it has been in high school.

My job for myself: Enjoy all of the last parts of high school and prepare myself for the next journey I am about to take.