Country Music

Honestly, I know what country song I want to listen to whatever mood I happen to be in at that time. They seriously have the most perfect song for any mood, and I do not think that all genres of music have that. Like, you are not going to find a sweet love song when it comes to rap music, and I am not hating on rap, because I occasionally enjoy that, but for the most part it is true.

Country music puts me in the best mood whenever I turn it on, well, unless it is new Taylor Swift then I just can't listen. Tim McGraw or FGL has got to be my favorite though because they just have the best sound and they really do not have a song I don't like. That is another thing about country music, in my opinion, nothing sounds the same and every song has an underlying meaning which is amazing to me. Most of the singers write a lot of their own songs too which can be a very hard thing to do.

I grew up with country so I guess you could say I am bias toward it all but I think most kids try to rebel against anything their parents do so the fact that it is still all I listen to I would say says something. Country is such a growing genre of music, like so many of my friends that used to be totally against it actually love it now. And their concerts are by far the best to go to! I have been to 7 country concerts and I have had the best time at all of them! Unlike many pop and rap singers they actually sound the same live as they do on the radio and I can say that from personal experience. My very first concert was the Black Eyed Peas and although their show was entertaining and really good, they did not sound like they do on the radio or on their Cd's. I am not taking their talent away from them but it is the truth.

Do yourself a favor and just try country out for like a week and I think that everyone could really enjoy it, even if you still like whatever genre you like better, at least you will have a second option.

Life as a Player

I have been playing soccer sense I was little and I have just grown up loving the game. I have been a high school soccer player for two years now, and am on my third. I play for Kennedy High School and I would not have it any other way.

My experience at Kennedy playing soccer has made some of the best memories of my life. I have been blessed with an incredibly talented team for the past two years. The most special to me so far is my Freshman year because we got a new coach. The thing that made it special to me is the fact that I started every single game and played pretty much all of them from beginning to end. Being able to be a part of it is one thing, but knowing that you were a contributing factor makes it that much more amazing.

I wish everyone had something that special that they would carry with them forever because even with that being two years ago, the thrill is still there and I do not see it wearing off any time soon. Soccer will always be one of those things to me that I will enjoy doing the rest of my life, no, I do not think I will become a professional soccer player, but I do think that I will get my kids involved in it and try to organize like a parents league or something because I do not think I will be able to ever really completely give it up until I really have to.

Switching gears a little bit here, we got a new coach freshman year mid-season. His name is Scott Meyers and I almost think it is a sign for college because he is the women's head soccer coach at Coe College and I have always wanted to look there for some reason! It is close to home and I know that I would fit perfectly in their soccer program. Being able to go there would allow me to be with a coach I already know and the opportunity to apply my soccer ability to the next level. I will forever be grateful that God gave me the talent to play soccer because I really have no idea where I would be without it.

Soccer has brought me so many new opportunities with travel and meeting my two best friends. Sage and Jordan have been on my CRSA club soccer team sense we were nine years old, and that is very special to me. Soccer has changed my life. I do not want to leave this thinking I am obsessive with this sport but it is an important thing in my life and I wanted people to know that.

The Glory of Sleep

For the people who have sleeping disorders or have trouble sleeping at all, I have so much compassion for you and I pray to God that it goes away, because sleep is the ultimate healing power for everything.

Whenever I am having a bad day, sleep seriously fixes it because just for a little bit, I am able to forget about what was upsetting me that day and I wake up not even thinking about it! One of the best feelings I ever have is waking up feeling refreshed, which during the school year doesn't really happen that often, but on the occasional "I am sick" line that I feed my mom, I am able to catch up and just feel awesome the entire day.

Why I decided to write about sleep is a really good question, but I do think I have a simple answer for it; everyone does it, I love it, so why not write about it? I get it seems a little random and maybe even a little scatter brained but still, it is one of God's greatest gifts. I am really thankful to not be a vampire.

I am one of those people who is really grouchy when I do not get all my sleep, but  I never have trouble sleeping, it is just the length I am aloud to sleep is what kills me. I am pretty sure my body needs like 13 hours of sleep each night for me to feel really refreshed and not bitchy in the morning, but even when I don't, I sleep like a baby. It is sad to me that some people have a lot of trouble sleeping because I do not think I would be able to function, but it is even worse for the people who once they wake up, can't go back to sleep! I know there are many actual diseases people have for sleeping but if I were them, I would take a bottle of Melatonin every single night just so I could get my sleep.

So sleep to me is not a very broad topic to talk about, but I would just like to reiterate on the fact that people need their sleep, and if you are one of those people who at a sleepover is talking and screwing around when others are trying to sleep, well you should probably end that now before you run into me at an overnight thing. I will throw a bitch fit and you will no longer want to sleep because you will be to scared. so my point to all this is, enjoy your sleep and if you can't, well, I am truly sorry for that.

Marengo

I have now lived in Cedar Rapids for almost eight years after moving here in 4th grade from the little town of Marengo in Iowa County about 45 minutes away from here. I miss is a lot of times but I would not choose to move back for three reasons, I have made life time friends here and I truly believe that. Soccer has been a huge part of my life for so long and if I still lived in Marengo I would not have had the same chances there. Finally, parties here in Cedar Rapids are most of the time better and they happen more often so that is a good perk.

When I first moved, it was the hardest thing I have ever had to do because it meant I was the new girl and I had to leave my friends I had grown up with. I have clearly grown a part from those friends but lately we really have been able to keep in touch more often. Marengo will always have a very special place in my heart because it was the very first place that I could call home.

Small towns have always had a sweet spot with me because everything is right there. You do not have to drive 15 minutes to go to your best friends house or be stuck in rush hour traffic. Being in a bigger city is still very overwhelming to me, like to the point that I get really bad road rage and feel very anxious when I am not very sure where I am on the road. In Marengo, I never had to worry about that kind of stuff.

I go back there every now and then when I can but sense it is kind of a ways it doesn't happen as often as I would like but whenever I do I always have a really great time! We always stay with these really good family friends of mine the Carneys. They have a son my age who I have always been really close with and knowing that we are always welcome there is the best feeling!

Sometimes I think about raising my kids there, but then I remember all the great things that came about in the bigger city. I obviously have a lot of time to think about it but Marengo will always be home and I do intend to have my kids be aware of it and want them to know that it may always be an option. I will always love Marengo.

Teachers

Teachers hold their students to a high standard that they expect everyone to meet. Some students may be held higher than others depending on the teacher’s feelings. So isn’t it only fair that students are allowed to do the same thing?

            I have an enormous amount of respect for teachers having to deal with certain kids because they have to do it all day every day, it is part of their job. I can barely handle a kid with ignorant remarks during one class a day. Although teachers do put up with a lot from their students, doesn’t give them any right to fall below the students, and sometimes the parents, standards of teaching.

            As a student, I feel as though I am most reliable when making this statement; Students enjoy school and learning so much more when the teacher enjoys teaching it. It becomes a problem when the students want to be there but the teacher acts like he or she doesn’t, and vice versa. It is amazing and I am very thankful for what teachers do because they do it with the pay they do not deserve.

            My expectations for teachers in High School are much higher than those in college for this reason; in High School you are preparing us for college, there for we need more attention given as well as patience. In college, most of them have three times the class sizes and much more students to worry about. My teachers now have been nothing but great to me, but I have had a few in the past that think we need to figure everything out on our own. If you are a teacher it is also a part of your job to explain when things do not make sense, not to get all lazy and tell us to figure it out.

            For the most part teachers live up to their expectations, but I want them to know that their students expect things out of you just like you expect things out of them. Lead by example and love what you do. Be kind to your students but tough when they need it. Make them feel as though you truly want the best out of them and lead them along the right path in life. That is what makes a great teacher and what I, myself, expect from you.

Everbody Makes Mistakes

So life is full of mistakes and God knows I have made plenty, but I really hope that people actually learn from those mistakes. I am not saying I am perfect, because I have made mistakes many times in high school and for the most part I continue to so that is one mistake I guess I haven't learned from because I have gotten in trouble from my mom but it really doesn't seem to stop me. I guess to me I do not think of it as a mistake because I am not hurting anyone, to me a mistake is like lying to your friend about something that happened, because obviously your intent isn't to hurt your friend, it is just something you did without thinking.

The thing about mistakes is that people need to learn to forgive them. I feel when you are the one of the short end of this mistake, you seem to be very defiant and not want to forgive, but when the roles are reversed, you seem to want to be forgiven. It is not fair, but that is how we work as people. I know for me it is very easy for me to forgive others, especially when they are good friends of mine because I know that I have made them and I know that I will make them again. A true friend will always forgive you, and if they don't they were not really your friend to begin with.

All of my true friends I know I would forgive because I know that whatever they did that was so wrong, it isn't them and there is always a reason as to why they did it. Some people who see that as an excuse I guess, but not in my eyes. I do not want to pressure people into thinking the way I do but I honestly believe that is the right way to do things. Forgiving is easy, so why not do it? If you are a perfect person and never make mistakes then you can no forgive people, but someday you will want someone to forgive you, but do not expect them to if you didn't forgive them.

Just like Miley Cyrus said: "Everybody Makes Mistakes"

Netflix Music

SO I recently just discovered that you are able to also listen to music on Netflix and kind of just add songs to make your own playlist or whatever, and the best part is, there is no extra charge!! you can just search songs and ass them on your list! Well, that is what I have been told anyway, I personally have never actually tried it but I have a hard time believing that someone would lie about a thing like that, that would just be mean and no one likes mean people.

When I figure out how to do this new awesome thing that just makes Netflix 10000000000 times better, I will surely let you know because I do not want all of my adoring fans to be let down. Yes, I know obviously I do not have any fans because my topics suck but I enjoy getting some of my thoughts out and well I really like typing freely.

So now that I have gone completely off topic, I think it should be time for me to do some research on this whole music thing for Netflix, I mean you never know, it could be the new iTunes for all we know. I think it could be even better because no one likes to spend more money if they do not have to so why buy all those same songs on iTunes when they come for free with Netflix? If you do not think this is a cool idea then you are honestly stupid, sorry but that is the truth.

I love music more than your average person so I am just going to go on a little speal about how much I love this idea! You can plug your device, whatever it may be, into your car if you have the right cord and I am getting that soon, and then I can listen to all my favorite songs whenever I want! There is honestly nothing in the world that makes me happier than being able to pick the songs I listen too, or at least be listening to songs, in whatever order that may be, that I love! I hate not knowing the words to songs and this also provides you with lyrics so that you can sing along and then eventually learn it! I know this is like way to excited than I should be but I can honestly think of nothing really bad about Netflix. All they are doing is keep getting better and better!

FOSTERS SOS

So the new TV show, The Fosters, that is on ABC Family is only on the second season and therefore only the first season is on Netflix and I have already seen it but sense I started watching it after the second season already started on actual TV I can't watch it until it goes back on Netflix!! I am having serious withdrawals because I loved it so much! It doesn't help seeing commercials about what is coming up in it either because that just makes me miss it even more than I already do!

I am sure many people who watch Netflix have this same issue. I know my neighbor, Jake, has it with his show Sons of Anarchy because they have the first 5 or 6 seasons on it but then the next one after is not on there yet so he always tells me how much he misses it and now I can totally see what he is talking about.

I think about The Fosters all the time! I do think that there is such thing as a TV addiction or an obsession I guess. I don't think I have this much I am pretty sure I am close to having it. Take One Tree Hill for instance, I watched that when it was actually on TV and I have seen it all the way through about 6 times and now I am on my 7th and I still LLLOOOVVVEEEE watching it. I think I will be that way with The Fosters as well. All I want in life right now is for the second season to be on Netflix so I can catch up because that is how amazing it is. Okay, it isn't all what I want in life but it would really help!!

BRING BACK THE FOSTERS!

One Tree Hill

               One Tree Hill is one of the most breathtaking and just amazing shows I have ever seen. This past year just about every girl on my grade was watching it non-stop on Netflix. It is an older show, well it came out in 2003, but I was watching it when it was on actual TV. No one had ever heard of it which I thought was weird, but clearly everyone loves it.

                This show has the prettiest people in it which is always a fun thing when watching anything on TV, but the acting in it is also great. You really get to see some of the people grow up and change. Everything about it keeps you intrigued and well, I think that everyone should just watch it themselves, you won’t regret it.

                A summary of the series is well, it is about a group of friends, well at first all of them aren’t friends but how they become friends and the journeys they get through together. Peyton Sawyer, Lucas Scott, Brooke Davis, Haley James, Skills, Mouth, Nathan Scott, Keith and Dan Scott, Karen, and Deb are the main characters. Yes, some people get added as they get older but these are the main ones.

                They start out in high school and once Lucas joins the basketball team, everything really just explodes from there. Nathan and Haley fall in love when they hated each other. Nathan and Lucas (brothers) finally agree on their father Dan Scott and become friends. There is a love triangle between Brooke Peyton and Lucas and just a whole bunch of other stuff.

                Dramatic things happen like Keith gets shot by a family member, Peyton gets stalked, Lucas almost dies in a car accident, and Deb and Dan get divorced. It just goes up from there. Later in the series they all graduate and move on with their lies but still remain great friends. You see them change and grow with each other in their home town, Tree Hill.

                Talking about it right now just gives me the chills. You will cry at some parts, be giddy at some parts, pissed, and happy. It is a mix of emotions but everything turns out great in the end. Seriously do yourself a favor and go watch One Tree Hill. You will probably never want to get out of your seat and you will most likely re-watch the series about ten times like I did and are still doing.