Not Exactly Broadway

Okay, I don't want to make it sound like I'm not having fun, because that would be a total lie. I AM having fun. Really. Aside from all the basketball games where we are having to constantly stand and cheer in the student section, and the constant throbbing in my head from the sound of basketballs on the court, everything is perfect. :) haha. I guess basketball just isn't my passion, which, if any of you reading this didn't already know this, then I probably don't know you. But I love people who are passionate, and seeing all the girls on my team totally come alive and show their dedication and heart towards this game, has been really fun. I just feel so honored to be included in this excitement. Hannah Jo and I woke up early today and went with Mr. Cowan and Alex to see Scio play. It was actually pretty fun. Hannah and I totally gave Joe and Alex a hard time. I don't know, it's actually been a really good experience. Lots of basketball. And I'm not too annoyed with basketball at this point. I think i can go another two days. I have to admit, I'm kind of bitter that this fell on this week, because I got free tickets to NNU's production of Oklahoma which I'm pretty sure would have been the bomb-digitty to attend, but whatever. This is fun too. Not exactly Broadway, but it'll do. :) Pray for us as we take on St. Mary's tomorrow!! Go Eagles!

Hannah wanted me to mention to all of you that I tried to actually make it Broadway at Burger King today. I decided, after not thinking it through of course, that I should dance and sing "Matchmaker" from Fiddler on the Roof. Things did not end well. I went to do my finale, and i threw my hands back, but as I was doing that, a lady decided that she would try to "sneak" by me with a full cup of soda. I ended up red-faced, cleaning up a HUGE mess as the team laughed hysterically. Wow. Looks like maybe Broadway isn't such a great idea. haha.

Melting Days

Do you ever feel like the days just mesh and melt into other days. Like, the days aren't much different, but somewhere along the lines they have to change into new days because before you know it, you realize a whole month is gone? You know? I kind of have been feeling that way for whatever reason. Like, everyday is the same day over and over and over and over again. Not that it's always bad. Some moments are better than others. But for the most part you just feel like your life is just kind of one big blur and you're just sitting there, waiting for someday to have a goal, have a plan and make sense of it all. I was walking around East Linn yesterday afternoon and I came to realize how much I feel excruciatingly insignificant. You know? Like, is there really a purpose for us all? Is it going to matter, in ten or fifteen or twenty years, that I, Christina Barreto, walked through East Linn campus, and the school meant something to me. You know? Mrs. Gillson was telling me about how she had a realization today that Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin were actual people. They walked and talked and breathed and had the same struggles as everyone else around. And they, to the world, seem so much more significant. You know? I told Mrs. Grove about that feeling of absolute insignificance, and she was all talking about how that's how we SHOULD feel, and we should be so humble as to say that we are so insignificant. Ha! All I could do was laugh. Doesn't she know me well enough by now? I never been humble once before in my life--why would I start now? Okay, that was a joke. Anyway. That's kind of been on my mind lately. Like, why does it matter that I, Christina Barreto am going to be a part of the graduating class of 2010 at East Linn Christian Academy. That only means anything to me. You know? Like, even next year, who is going to care??? Not that I'm trying to say that I don't matter and that I'm emo and everything, that's not my point. I just find it very strange to think of how often I think of myself and I am always looking out for myself. I make plans for myself, I have dreams, goals, desires, and what does it all matter? I mean, beyond what it matters to me.... does that make any sense??? Anyway. Just a thought.

Today, I got a form from NNU for trying out for a music scholarship. I'm so stressed out. Like, first of all, which instrument do I audition or record? Aaaaand, what if I would rather just sing? Or just play the piano?? I mean, after all, it's not like I'm REALLY all that great at anything I do... it's just I do A LOT of different instruments and I have a lot of ability, but I'm not like AMAZING... so it's kind of stressful. Aaaaand, if I try say that I'm an alto- am I really? Not that it'll make all that much of a difference, it's just that I've been singing Alto since like 8th grade because I read music and because I can harmonize and basically learn it myself and I don't have to have a lot of extra help so, I can teach others, while Mrs. Grove teaches the Sopranos the melody. Not that I'm saying I'm so good that I don't ever need help, that's not true, it's just that I know enough about music that usually I can pick it up pretty easily, and I don't have to work very hard to do it, and then the other humans in my section can learn it faster. Sooooo..... I'm not an actual Alto. Like I don't have Megan Knox or Coleen Rydholm's true Alto voice, but I do okay.

I don't know. Maybe I'm just stressing too much about this. I talked to Kimi Kruesi about college and she was a great comfort. I found that I'm not the only human in the world freaking about college and she said that it's totally normal. Which was really nice to hear, considering I have no idea where I really want to go, and what I really want to do. Like, I want to do something with music, and English and writing and maybe possibly like theater, but who knows. Just so many things to think about. I wish someone would just tell me.

Misty Edwards is the Bomb!

Sooooo... I put this link to "You Wont Relent" on here becasue it's awesome and I think it's a great reminder to me that God wants all of us. Every last part, and He wont relent until he has it all. Anyway, I fell in love with Misty Edwards' music this past summer, and I highly recommend listening to her if you haven't yet! It's soooo great and I love love love her voice!

You Wont Relent (Seal) - Misty Edwards

New Song

So, in Viva Voce we are going to try to sing this song, because it would be a freaking blast. It's called Trashin' the Camp, by N'sync and it's from Tarzan... it's the first song in the sidebar, and I hope you all LOVE it, because it's going to be freaking awesome!

Ahhh I love weekends!!!

Yesterday was a pretty full day. I woke up pretty early and kind of just layed around, but then the creative writing club went to the Saturday market in Eugene and had a BLAST!! I was kind of cold and wet, but it was fun. I saw a lot of things that I wanted, but I don't think I ended up going back to get them. I kind of forgot about them when there was a bit of drama and trauma among the group. I tried some weird tasting foods, almost bought an amazingly beautiful skirt that I wanted sooooo bad but didn't fit me. The lady gave me her card, so I may give her a jingle so I can have her make one for me. :) Aaaaand, there was a lady there who made these cool mirror things with different cartoons of movie pics on the front. They were sooo cool. And she had a bunch of flasks. It's sooo weird that those are coming back, by the way. So yes, she also gave me her card and I'm going to have her make me a Buffy. Devon bought one that was a bunch of women superheros and there was one of Buffy, but it wasn't enough Buffy for me. Then I also saw this cool guy playing the Chinese flutes that were really pretty and pretty sounding. I played around with one for a moment, but wasn't any good. I wish I could learn every instrument in the world and then just sit on the corner of the street or on a park bench or whatever and just play. That guy was my favorite. He was really sweet and really informative. He told me all about the history of the flutes and about all the different keys they are in. I'm pretty sure if I bought one, it would be in C major/Am. So yeah, the market was really fun.

When we got back to the school, East Linn was playing in the tournament still, and they were kicking butt, so I watched for a while. Taylor and I played "The Most Addictive Game" on his ipod touch. I basically sucked at it. His best time was like 25 seconds and mine was 17.96 (Which means I'm average) Haha. Then I went to Mrs. Van Essen's office and looked at the senior pics she took of me. They turned out great! I was really excited. Then it was off to Haley's 17th birthday party/dance. It was a blast. A LOT of dancing. I'm getting too old for this. I didn't know this but apparently I'm a good dancer. According to Katie Latimer and Jayden Bontrager and other random people I'm very "smooth" whatever that means.What can I say, my hips don't lie. Hahahahaha. It made for a crazy fun ending to an super great day!!!

I WILL NOT!!

So today was the last day to change out class schedules at school. I thought I would go and ask the new academic adviser if I was going to be able to be qualified to graduate in about nine months. According to him, everything was ship shape. This was until I realized that my friend Taylor couldn't be in choir due to PE that he never took. I realized that I haven't done it in high school either. But, I was told my freshman year by the old academic adviser that if I played a varsity sport, and I was instead doing choir that it was totally cool, and they would count my sports as PE classes. That is why I didn't worry about it all of high school. Last year when I had the extra class period, I used it to assist the music teacher in both her junior high band and choir.

Anyway, I went back to the office. I wanted to talk to the old academic advisor and reiterate what she had told me three years ago. But noooooo the school secretaries sat there and refused to let me speak to her, because apparently she has no control of scheduling or anything like that anymore and if we need to talk to some one, we HAD to talk to the new advisor! Ah Hah! I was like "watch me!" okay, I didn't say that, but I definitely thought it. Anyway, I sat there calmly and waited for my turn to talk to the new one. FINALLY I talked to him, and I asked him about . He is totally aggravating me here, and I hope he could tell. I wanted to punch him is his crap lousy face!

Sooo....Am I going to have to take PE at all? I ask with a hint of hope in my voice.

Oh, you haven't taken it in high school?

Um... well, no, I've been doing choir. (As you would have known, had you ACTUALLY looked at my schedule and credit history like you said you did )

Ohhh you're one of THOSE, he says, as if I was of an entirely new breed of students.

Drop dead, I think, smiling politely not to piss him off.

Well, you're going to have to have a credit of PE this year.

Okay, what does that mean? I ask calmly because I know he EXPECTED me to fly off the handle and start freaking out as "old christina" would have.

What do you have 7th period?

Choir. DUH.

Yeah, you're going to have to drop that class.

NO. FREAKING. WAY. Um.... I ask, calmly again, well, what about high school sports, I was told in the beginning, that if I played a varsity sport, it could be considered part of my PE credits?

well.... not any more.

I was pissed. I wanted to pick him up and throw him out the window. If I were Buffy, I would have driven a wooden stake into his heart. But instead I made an appointment to figure this out tomorrow (because he had a meeting to go to), then I got up, left the room, and waited to be safely in Devon's class room to freak out.

Then in ensemble, after the meeting, I told my choir director what was going on. She flipped out, and had a conversation with the "old academic adviser", which is really the one I wanted to talk to. The new one is completely clueless apparently. While she was there, I talked Mr. Hill, because I like him SOOOO much more than the other guy. Anyway, he was totally on my side, and realized that they told me this because they didn't have the gym yet when I was a freshmen, so they hadn't made those requirements. So, I SHOULD be exempt from these rules. However, my choir director now has a meeting with the new and the old academic advisers and the athletic director tomorrow. I'm stressed out, but I keep telling myself it's going to be okay. Although, I really don't trust this new guy, so who knows. I don't understand why they would go and change this on me, and not let me know. The old adviser's words were "if you are helping to further the music department then we will allow you to use your sports as credits" this was the year when Jenni Grove was there for her first entire year, and the music program was the focus. Anyway. It just makes me mad. It better be sorted out tomorrow, or I really will stake that guy. Okay. Maybe not, but I will probably continue to have homicidal thoughts about him.

Student Orientation/Picture Day

Today, I knew I was going to be stressed. So I took the day off work. I was of course, happy to do this, but now I kind of wish I would have just gone to work. Because now instead of being at work and being worried about my senior pics, I have to be at home, trying to focus on my online classes and am distracted and worried. I knew it would happen. I went to bed late last night, so I could sleep in. But instead, I woke up at the same time and just pretended to be asleep. I hate that. Then finally around nine I went to student orientation. I hate that part of school. It's like the day that you know that summer is over. Don't get me wrong, I am excited about school, I do actually like school. I know, I'm a nerd, and I have always said that I hate it, but the truth is, I can't imagine what life will be like when I don't get to go to school. Right now, my life is sooooo easy. I live at home, I am fed, I don't have any bills, and basically I get to run my life. Now, in about 10 years, I hope to be married, have kids and be a teacher. But, who knows, right? Anyway, orientation was actually decent today. CJ, Taylor, Megan, Haley and I sang our rendition of the Journey song, Don't Stop Believing. It totally drives me crazy that SOME people insist on waiting til the last second for EVERYTHING. I am a perfectionist when it comes to music, even when it's just supposed to be "for fun". I hate it when you lose a basketball game or whatever and people are like "Well, did you have fun??" Seriously, nobody goes and plays basketball to "have fun" if you're totally passionate about it. You CAN have fun, but usually the fun comes when you win, or when you knew you played as hard as you could and it was enjoyable. "Well, if you had fun, then that's all that matters" BA HAHAHA! Yeah right! Never in life are you going to WANT to lose. Everyone plays to win, weather they admit it or not. Now, I realize that the song we performed was just "for fun" but even in a pick-up game of basketball, nobody is out there walking around just goofing off (for the most part) they are still in it to win. I just don't understand how people who are so "passionate" about music be so lazy. It just doesn't make sense to me. It seems to me, that even when it is "just for fun" you would still try your hardest so that you feel good about it, and then it IS fun. But hey, what do I know?

Okay, so I'm leaving in about an hour to go and get my pics done. I am soooo nervous, but I know it's ridiculous. It's JUST senior pictures. It's not a HUGE deal, but for some reason, it is for me. I know I shouldn't be freaked. Mrs. Van Essen is doing them and she's a genie. Or, as her daughter put it, "My mom can make ANYONE look good" haha. Thanks. Well, I'm off to do my hair and make up. Pray for me!! :)

GLEE!!!

Holy Cow! I am soooo excited for this fall when this show finally starts. I can't wait. I think our school should definitely have a Glee Club. The other day in Choir, we watched some of the random scenes that were on YouTube... here's the extended trailer and, my favorite, their song!It's going to be the bomb-digitty. I can't wait!

He Loves Me Best

This weekend my most favorite guy in the whole world came over and visited me. His mom and dad came with him, but that wasn't the important part. I love this guy so much! He is going to be 7 months old on the 16th. Kendra (his mom) said the doctor told them that Rylee is 95% bigger than all the other 6 1/2 month old humans. He is one big boy now. He is wearing 12 month clothes now. He is wanting to crawl, but is unsuccessful. I love watching him grow, but I don't want him to grow too fast. Do you know what I was thinking about the other day? Isn't it funny how every time there is a baby born, the family dreams up everything that is going to happen in his or her life-- and those plans always include the baby being extremely smart, extremely talented and the most adorable human ever. They are like the captain of the varsity football team and they are like homecoming king, and they get into the most amazing school ever and they do no wrong. Nobody ever wants their baby to be the class dumby. The class klutz. The school nerd (well, I do- but that's just me). Nobody wants there kid to be the one who has to get all the swirlys and get beat up just so the other guys can have their fun. Isn't that funny? Cuz some one's gotta do it. Not everyone can be cool, not everyone can have all the looks and have all the brains and be the most attractive person in the world.

Just look at him! Look how cute he is. Btw, he is going to be the most musically inclined little boy in the entire world. His first word is going to be a word that he sings. And he is going to be crawling up onto the piano bench in his diaper and play the piano. I foresee this.

This is when I tried to teach him how to crawl... all he needs to do is get his knees up, and he'll be moving in no time at all! He's soooo cute though--- he thinks he's crawling but all he is doing in being a seal or something. I think it's really cute. We ended up doing push-ups, it was great fun. He's my favorite!

MEGGO MY EGGO!

I totally called it. I told you all in the beginning that she would win. Of course I was right. I'm a genius. She totally pulled off the Whitney Huston song that I wanted her to do a LONG time ago. But I'm glad she waited until the finale because she basically kicked butt!!!! Holy freaking cow that girl is good. I don't know how they could compete with her last night. Like, she was the first act, which is always hard to be... but she totally deserved the win. Taylor got second, and the Danika girl who has a voice kind of like any Disney channel girl you want to imagine, got third. She was from Santiam Christian, and Mrs. Grove thought it was cool that the "Christian school kids" won. lol. Anyway, here are the links, if you're interested. Which I know you are. Taylor started out pretty flat and I was really worried about his choice of song for the finale. The first half wasn't very good-- but after he changed keys and hit that high E, I think it is, it was all good from there. I was the loudest voice screaming in the back ground when he hit that E, by the way. He totally pulled it off in the end and I was very proud of that man. Meggo is absolutely breathtaking as always. She is seriously way too passionate for her age. She just has a way with captivating the audience in most every song she sings. MOST every song. Anyway, she never ceases to amaze me. This girl is my best friend and I am extremely extremely proud of her. She is singing this song at my wedding. Just sayin.

Rain Rain Go Away

Okay, so I realize how lame of a title for a blog post that is, but I have been singing that all day long. ALL. DAY.LONG. Seriously. Tomorrow is the Fine Arts Festival, and it would REALLY suck to have to have it inside. Especially because inside means that it can't be OUTSIDE. That will NOT be okay with me, I don't think. Also, It is so pretty when it's outside because Brenna and Logan's parents always bring really pretty flowers and plants to totally make this campus look absolutely amazing. So yeah. Also, I don't like our gym very much... it has REALLY bad acoustics as all gyms do. Anyway that's why I've been singing about the rain all day.

Celia is playing basketball and softball right now. But she's totally good at that kind of thing. I would never be able to do that. I don't think I might actually go crazy if I had to do two different sports like almost every night. I suppose that's kind of what happens in the winter with basketball and music, but at least music isn't like a sport that is as physically exhausting as what she's doing. Like, for most people softball is kind of a chill sport, but as Celia is big into pitching, that's not exactly true for her.

Okay so all my friends around me have been fighting nonstop since formal, and I am totally sick of hearing about all of it. I just want them all to apologize and let it go, but so far all of the "apologies" have been something like this:
Friend #1 : I'm sorry, I wasn't looking at it from your point of view.... but you weren't looking at my point of view either."
Friend#2: "Then you're not really sorry. I AM really sorry, but I wish you would quit being so selfish."
Friend#3: "I really don't have anything to be sorry for."
Me:"Seriously guys, SERIOUSLY?"

So tonight Megan and I are going to be practicing for her teen idol song on Friday night, so it looks like my day might possibly get better. :)

Ensemble

So I was selected to be in the school's "Honors Ensemble" YAY! The only thing I'm anywhere near good at is singing, which is why the best honors class I can be in is in music. Ah, well. Any way, it's had it's trials and tribulations so far, but the year is yet so young. Here are our cool ensemble pics: