its not really beginning to look a lot like christmas

I was cleaning out my desk today when I noticed an old article I wrote for the Pushka as a sophomore. It was written for the Christmas edition, and I know its not Christmas, but I just couldn't resist... So here are some reported gifts.

"During last year's band gift exchange, I received a voodoo doll and a tiara from a mystery person. Its ok though, I just torment them through the voodoo doll."-Clea Will

"I got a foot massager from my grandma. I was really disappointed when I first opened it, but then I realized it was actually pretty cool. It had those little moving people things sticking out... It made me feel good."-Manfred Bekeris

"During Christmas season I usually get lazy and start running out of money, so I just start giving people stuff from my room like used candles."-Kelsey Hagan

"Nate Mullins gave me a pound of roast beef. I'm a vegetarian."-Gretchen Stelzenmuller

"Last year I got my old basketball and a bunch of rocks wrapped up in a box. I asked my mom why she even bothered wrapping it. She said she wanted it to look like I had more presents."-Morgan Martin

"Marissa Stahla gave me a homemade candy choo-choo train. The train had Oreos for wheels and a lifesaver smoke stack. I thought it would make a good snack until she told me that she used Elmer's glue to hold it all together."-Laurel Eliason

"Every year my dad gets me the exact same thing for Christmas. Beef jerkey, socks and shampoo."-Robyn Schlins

"Someone gave me a big box of phone books and dictionaries. I was thinking it wasn't a gooder until I found a Rugrat's CD at the bottom of the box."-Joy Ribao

"My grandpa is a bit of a gardening fanatic. A couple years ago, our family received a pickle in a bottle from him. Supposedly, he had grown it himself."-Kaari Stockel

"My dad used to be the principal of Keet Gooshi Heen and sometimes he'd have to confiscate items from kids. He saved [all the confiscated items] until Christmas, wrapped them, and gave them to me. Usually, I got random things like knives, handcuffs, and one time, a skateboard!"-Hannah Hutton

"One year, I gave all of my friends anti-fungal cream."-Jesse Remund

"Last year I got giant granny underwear from some friends. I started to open them in front of my parents, but when I realized what was in the package, I ran to my room and hid the gift."-Jennifer Vallion

"My secret Santa gave me two bottles of men's cologne."-Jodie Totten

"I got these incredibly ugly, green and red, knee-high socks with Christmas trees and bells on them from my grandma."-Abby Sparrowgrove

"Grandmas really just shouldn't give gifts. A couple years ago, my grandma gave me a neon-green swimsuit with a padded bra and ruffle going across the stomach. She made me try it on and come out and model it for her. It came all the way down to my knees. My grandma just smiled and said, "Well, what do you think?" I looked at her with a fake smile and told her that it was very nice and thanked her."-Sarah Reynolds

"Jesse Hughey gave me a Fisher Price toy doctor's bag filled with peanuts and spam last year. No joke."-Sean Griffin

"A few years ago, I received ONE shoe filled with a bunch of scrunchies. It was from my grandma... We're a little worried about her..."-Cory Welsh

we made it

Welp, the Class of '05 is done. Graduated, and partied out.

Last night I went to "The Rock Concert." It was pretty bad-ass. I mean, I even knew the band members. Haha. It was pretty funny, among other things.

And now, summer has started, so let the games begin!

scooter rally

Someone planned a scooter and rollerblade meet-up at Kettleson Library last night. More than 30 of us met up there and sported our scooters and 'blades down Lincoln Street, and around, and around, and around the church. It was definitely a sight to be seen.

After workin' the downtown, we headed over to McDonald's where we all gathered at the Drive-Thru. We ended up ordering TWENTY-TWO pies! Yeah, they had to bake more, just for us.

With the great success of the First Annual Scooter Rally, I imagine more scooter/blade fun will follow... For those of you who missed out.

secret ingredients

The prevalence of water bottles lately strikes me. Especially Nalgene bottles. Most everyone owns one, and at least half of everyone seems to carry it everywhere. Its kind of weird because it seems that just within the past couple of years, water has become especially important. People are becoming more and more creative with the ways they carry their water; camel-packs, colored Nalgene bottles in all different sizes and shapes, metal water containers, and, well, recycled Aquafina, Dasani, True, etc. bottles. (Which, I should remind you, are not meant for multiple uses. -Therefore, after the first use, the plastic lining begins fallling apart and you end up consuming bits of plastic.)

Very recently, Aquafina and Dasani have come out with flavored water. To my knowledge, you can purchase, "lemon-lime," "berry," and well, that's all I can remember. But anyway, its basically just sparkling water with a fake, fruit flavor. Cool? Yeah, I suppose. I've had it a couple times, and its not bad. But the thing that gets me, is how it has 0 calories, 0 fat, 0 sodium, 0 everything! And to top it off, for the ingredients, it just reads:
Sparkling water, Natural flavors

Not too helpful. So if anyone figures out how they do that, I'd be interested in knowing. Until then, I will sip in confusion.

i am a stork

Sitka possesses great weather and I've really been enjoyin' it during softball practices... Especially when we're doing the "stork" drill. Haha. Ask me in person for a demonstration.

While driving home tonight, I noticed several couples out walking their dogs. Half of them were standing there, watching their dog peeing on something. Why is it ok for us to watch our animals do their duties? I actually think some people enjoy the show... Its weird.

we missed you ashley

Juneau played tough, and so did we, but not tough enough. They managed to beat the "bitches from Sitka," yet again. Haha. The games were good though. And we're still going to the 'ship in Fairbanks, and we're still undefeated for our division! Heck yeah.

oh my goth

Today I was browsing some random "myspace" profiles (which I recommend all youthful individuals to join) and I found a young, angry, gothic girl. In her profile she included a correction to common stereotypes...

Goths:

Don’t always wear black
Don’t worship Satan
Are NOT evil
Do not want to kill people
Do not hate everybody
Are not always depressed
Can be happy too
Are usually nice people
Are normal, just like you

HAHA! Then what the heck are they?

crazy lady spotting!

We saw GiGi, Gwendolyn, the Crazy Lady in Juneau! She still appeared to be her crazy self...

its time to "pop the tire" for real

This weekends games against Juneau were... well... There is really no adjective to describe them. A mix between intense/frustrating/awesome/yeah. The first game wasnt so great. We allowed them to "8-run-rule" us. -Whatever that means, haha. Its usually "ten-run-rule," but for whatever reason, Juneau decided to change the rule. So, the final score was 9-1.
In the second game, we played 'em a little tighter, but couldn't get any runs. The final score was 3-0. However, in the third game, we held 'em 0-0 up until the 6th inning, when we got a run, to make the score 0-1! We were up! We went out into the field, came back, and scored 2 more runs, 0-3, we were still up! Heck yeah, we were thinking. Lets beat Juneau on their home territory, for the first time. Well, in the final, seventh inning, Juneau pulled out their secret bats and ripped a few base hits to win the game, 4-3. Dang. We were so close.

Although we didn't win, we were still pretty good sports about it all... We left the field with a "maybe-next-time" attitude; nothing "bitchy." But for some reason... Someone else felt differently:

Holler?
Current mood: content
So we've already had 5 softball games and we are 5-0...go bears? haha yeah not so hard let me tell you. Today's game was questionable we played like shit, but thats okay because we still beat the BITCHES from Sitka! yeah thats what I thought. Wierd they talk shit and then we win. WEIRD...I had tiger balm on today because my arm was bothering me...and one girl was like "she smells" yeah well at least I don't suck mother fucker. And I'm sick so I'm not in a good mood to begin with....maybe i'll pitch tomorrow just so i can jack her up?...and Anyways I really don't like Sitka they've never been nice, and so why should we be nice to them? yeah good point. Anyways I have yet to hit a homerun this series but I got one against K-Town it was almost foul...that would have sucked. Anyway I just wanted to write in here b/c it's been a while....so Yeah I'm gonna "peace out" (ilea belcourt) Holler C-BeArS!!!

-This was pulled, directly, from Ashley Larson's blog. Pretty nice, eh?
And just an FYI, we never said she "smelt" like it was a bad thing. We only made note of her "tea-like" aroma...

the sniper

Last night Kaari and I were privelaged enough to receive a grand tour of the police station and a patrol vehicle. Wow, they have a lot of "gadgets." -Haha. Remember Inspector Gadget? Gosh, I loved that cartoon. Anyway, yeah, the police station. They have a sniper rifle! And AR-15s (Assault Rifles = for killing people). They have grenades that are supposed to stun and disorientate people so that they can do raids. Umm... Oh, and for all you speeders: The cops can actually get your speed via radar from ANY angle, passing you, going the same direction, when you are behind them, etc. We were also told that the radar can go pretty much as far as visibility allows. They gave us the example of a patrol vehicle checking speeds sitting across from Camille Skannes' in that little gravel turn around, to the corner of the Channel Club. -So, even if you immediately slow down, they've got you. Lets see... The men's jail has tv, but the women's doesn't. Lame. Yeah, they have got a lot of crap.

Welp, tomorrow I'm headed to Juneau for the game of softball. I'd love to win, but we'll see with all the dang drama that is taking place...

wig!

Reporting from Ketchikan:
Tawny, Natalia, Abby, and myself are housed out together in a big ol' log cabin. Rocky II is on (Natalia loves it, Tawny hates it), Abby is still asleep, and I'm doing what I love most, blogging.

Our housing situation is one of the better, but also one of the more interesting... Yesterday morning, I mentioned something about how I hate hair, and that I'd rather just not have it. Our "housing mom" interrupted, "Well, you could be like me and wear a wig. I just fluff it up every morning."
Aww... Poor ol' lady. Later on, she made her husband put the pizza in the oven because she "didn't want her hair to melt."
The family also has a very quiet Autistic son. However, we have been told to be cautious because he cannot tell the difference between guys and girls, so he may just walk in the bathroom while its occupied. -We were told not to be afraid...

As for softball, we played one game in the rain yesterday. We won, 5-12.