2 Badminton Games from last week

          Surprise, surprise? :D I kept my promise about writing a blog on Friday! Anyways, today I will be talking about my 2 badminton games from last week that I didn't get to share before. According to the last badminton game post, we had a season of 1-1.
          Okay, so on the Tuesday, we played the "City Champions". They play in OFFSA, which is the provincial level. We were all expecting to be creamed, so I personally thought that the loss wouldn't be too saddening. Anyways, we played the 2nd last match and we lost. The score was 7-21 & 7-21. Oh and another thing that I just remembered: You're always suppose to say your score first. Whenever I tell my teammates or my coaches the scores, they always ask,"Which score is yours?". -_______- And so I tell them. But seriously? You coach badminton and you play badminton YET you don't know? I think I learned that ATLEAST in the first 2 years of Badminton. This year is my 5th. Anyways, the girls weren't exactly that good, since like 5 of the 7 points we got, were because of their faults, like missing a bird or serving it into the net.
          Okay, so a little bit of knowledge in court placements for doubles. You have 2 options: One is to play front and back (considered as the offensive position and where you move side-to-side to hit the birds) or Two is to play side-to-side (considered as the defensive position and where you move front and back).
          These girls were taught very good strategy, which is another part in Badminton. You can have the best footwork and lack strategy and lose because of it. Anyways, so guess what the girls started doing? Smashing it down towards the sides of the court -.- . SMART & I envy it xP . Now our standings are 1-2.
          Okay, next game. We faced the school that my brother and most of my friends go to. My school and their school is in the same district so there is somewhat of a rivalry. I REALLY wanted to beat them. So, we get there early, like always. We rally with our teammates, which is normally the best workouts and the most sweating I do during the games. So, I'm sweating at this point.
          From the last game, I learned that I must try to gather points as quick as possible, meaning to do drop-shots or smashes. The point is, is to try to end a rally instead of keeping one, which is what I'm used to. We won our match: 21-4 & 21-3. WE CREAMED THEM. I was ecstatic! Although, if you were there, you could clearly tell that our opponents weren't. One girl looked VERY pissed off at us. And you know what made it even worse? My partner smashed it at her goggles(we have to wear them to protect our eyes after someone almost got blind) and she got VERY shocked. Hilarious yet guilty is how I felt xD I don't know if I should be laughing or feeling sorry. Anyways, the bad news is that we lost that match as a team: 11 points - 16 points. So, now I am going to divide the standings into the Teams': 1 - 3 & Our Matchs': 2 - 2.
          That was that. Do you guys like these posts or are you tired about hearing about Badminton? Well, then you've got to hang in there because I think I may schedule my next posts like this: Monday = Badminton games this week (just so I don't forget) & Friday = 2 - 4 Book Reviews.
          Also, I haven't updated in a while, so I'll update you guys. From my last rant, you know Kayla? Well, I think I may have provoked the problem even more, although I was trying to think about how to overcome the situation by asking and telling her about how I felt about the whole situation. However, my friendship with Hannah did grow stronger. But for now, it's really awkward between Kayla and I.
          But for now........Let's end off with......................................TGIF xP

Bloomed -> Blooming~
-Melanie

Rant #2: What people will do to get what they want

          Helllooooooo. Welcome to another rant, 2 posts in a row. As you can see, I am a ranter ( if that's an actual person....) This comes with an example from school, from a pretty close friend (or so I thought) that I got angry towards. Don't worry though, I didn't blow up and scream, spit, yell or attack her but I did show that I was certainly not happy with her, that's for sure. Okay, let's get to it.
          Okay. So, I'm not a very @r+$y person, as you can see by my fail attempt at finding perfect keys on the keyboard to write "artsy". So, in English class today, we were assigned a task from our teacher, who was away today. Since we read Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet, my teacher thought that she would get us to think and perform -___________- .....how lovely. Anyways, we had to ponder about "what tragic-love is?" and we would have to create a skit, in which demonstrates our interpretation. Basically, we are getting marked on our interpretation and creativity.
          Right after,  my friend, let's call her Kayla, whispers, " I don't think we will be good in a group." to me. At the time, I was incredibly saddened by her statement, since she didn't want to be in my group and I didn't exactly know who "we" were. I mean normally, I have my small group of pretty close friends, who are Kayla, Terri and Hannah. So, I thought she meant us 4, but she only meant her, Terri and I. Then, the teacher let us linger to pick our groups. Guess what Terri and Kayla did? They ran straight to the back of the room with people that they hardly/sometimes talk to, to get a "good" group....smfh....
        So, my friend, Hannah, comes over to my desk, which is what I was already expecting her to do. My initial mental plan was Kayla, Terri, Hannah and I.(3-4 people in a group). So, now we only had 2 people. We tried to convince Kayla and Terri's NOW group(still smfh) to allow one of their members to come over to our group to make 2, 3 people groups, since they had 4people. However none of them moved -.-. So, they wanted to help ( yeah, right...) so, they tried to convince this group of 5 to allow one of their members into our group. That didn't happen.
          At this point I feel sooo FRICKEN shitty because no one wanted us in their group. Have you ever been lonely or thought that everything would go on without you? Well that's how I felt. I was sure glad that Hannah was there :D Hannah if you're reading this, I told you in class but I'll tell you again, I WILL NEVER DO WHAT KAYLA AND TERRI DID, towards you (just saying). Look at the extent in which Kayla went to, just to not be in our group. She thought that we "lacked creativity" and she wanted a better mark. Look into the future and think about it. Will that one mark on a careless play be WORTH MORE than our friendship? (I've known her for 10 1/2 years, always have been friends and gradually have come to be close friends).
           I do agree that I may lack some creativity but like she doesn't? I mean I get it with visual arts or band but in drama, she's no better than I am. People like her are why people feel like they have no value, which is how Hannah and I felt, at the time. Also, I also wanted to get a better mark since I am not doing the best in English. Luckily, these wonderful classmates didn't mind us joining their group and now our play is going great! I just really hope that my group gets a better mark than they do, just because of the comment Kayla made. We're presenting tomorrow.
         Okay, so thank you for reading rant #2, I just really wanted to let this out. Don't worry, I'll try my best to control my anger. Currently I am just ignoring Kayla, which is about the nicest way to show that I am angry. Thank you Vivien for those names, Kayla and Terri, which are, if you haven't guessed, substituted names. Hannah, did you know that you are VERY good at writing a script that involves Shakespearean language? (: Anyways, I want to soon write posts about my last week, tomorrow and Wednesday 's badminton games and some book reviews. I'll try to get another post up by Friday but no promises ;)

Bloomed -> Blooming~
-Melanie

Rant #1:"Treat Everyone the Way You Want to be Treated"

          Ahhhhh...the cliché saying, " Treat Everyone the Way You Want to be Treated". Well, that's not always true......sorry to break it to you. I will now rant about a day last week that made me furious as I thought about equality.
          So, I wanted to pick up 2 of my holds at the library and while I'm there, pick up some McDonalds for lunch. "Ewww. McDonalds." <---Be quiet, like you have never ate there before xP But anyways, that isn't the point. So, I'm walking the normally faster-than-average pace to the library first. You know how when you're walking one way and these strangers are walking towards you, on the same sidewalk? And then you try to make room for eachother to pass by? Well that didn't happen. So, this happened twice during my journey. These two seniors, who I'm guessing are probably married, were walking towards me. So what I usually do when this occurs is move over to one side, atleast leaving half of the sidewalk for the other person, early on before we even reach eachother. So, I do that.  I shift over to the right side. As we start to approach one another, THEY STILL DON'T MOVE!!! So, I had to step onto the dirt, which was next to the sidewalk, since I was on the innerside of the sidewalk and NOT on the side of the curb.
          So, by now I'm thinking, well okay then.. So I just keep walking. Not so long afterwards, I approach these two new mothers, who are both pushing strollers, side-by-side. So, I do the exact same thing as I did before....still no movement.....so I had to step over on the dirt. Again. By now, my anger starts to steam.
          Do people have no sidewalk manners these days? I mean, when I walk with my friends or my cousins, whenever we start to approach someone, I always step behind or in front of the person I'm walking with. (Usually behind though, unless neither of us move then I may step forward). If I can do it, others can do it as well. Also, I'm not saying that everyone does this (thank goodness) but some people need to learn to be considerate. I know many people wouldn't be bothered by these subtle movements but people who are perceptive, like myself, tend to notice little details.
          So, as if not enough anger for one day, I walk over to McDonalds, which is just next to the library. I walk in and notice one line, even though there are probably 2 cashiers operating. I decide to join the 1 line but the last guy in the line, has his back against the wall. Therefore, I had to line up either to the right or left of him. So I chose the closest side: Left. Then this senior walks up and lines up on the right of this man. I get a little concerned because I'm not sure where I'm suppose to line up and now he just confuses me. Therefore, I thought that the smartest thing to do was to go up to the senior and ask him if he was in line. First he doesn't reply and just looks forward like no one said anything. So I asked him again, "Are you in line?". Then he stutters and says,"uh..uh...uh...yeeess....I'm in line." So I line up behind him. So by now I'm trying my best to keep my anger in, which has amounted so far. Then finally, the senior in front of me reaches the register and I stand there waiting. Remember when I said that there were 2 cashiers open? This man that has just walked in, now stands next to me behind one of the cashiers. That cashier opens and he walks up. Now I'm thinking, really...? -_____- . So, I wait for what feels like forever and then I finally reach the cashier, order and leave.(Also, you remember the senior that was in front of me? He ended up not having enough money to purchase his order. I couldn't help but giggle a little inside of me :$ )
          I feel like I am misjudged because I am not an adult. People see me as "no one important". Like really? I can understand how they may think but can you not just at least pretend that you aren't discriminating towards younger ones? Things like these are simple acts of how inequality is shown. The people doing this may not even realize it and it may just be me but it's not nothing.
          Thank you for listening to my first rant (: Also, if you have any ideas of how you would respond or act towards the people described above, please comment :D.

Bloomed -> Blooming~
-Melanie

A Long Weekend: Shopping

          Props for 3 posts written in 1 day? xDD . Okay, so remember, a while ago I mentioned going shopping? Well, I wanted to talk about this when I finally get my USB cable back from my cousin, which I never got back since he needs it for the psp that he borrowed from us. USB CABLE DDDD; .Well, I am going to describe the items that I got the best I can and I also tried to find pictures from google that may look like the item that I bought.
          Let's start with my intentions on what to shop for: I wanted to buy a sweater or some kind of alternative top that I can wear over a t-shirt or something, which could be a hoodie, cardigan or what I wanted to get was one of those slouchy, comfortable tops.

          I bought items from 3 different shops, technically. The first being Ardene. Okay, so this is a store that sells a variety of items, including sweaters, hoodies, jeans, tops, scarves, necklaces, belts, key chains, earrings, etc. As I said earlier, I wanted some sort of sweater. I saw a slouchy top but it was alot thinner than I wanted it to be. I saw hoodies but the largest size didn't fit me xP. So, I started to head around to the back of the store. That's when I discovered scarves. I have always wanted to own a scarf but I've never found one that I liked or it was too overpriced. Anyways, I searched through them and decided to purchase 2. While I was doing this, Vivien  was searching around for necklaces. She made Miranda, my other cousin, hold the ones that she liked. 

          Okay, so the first scarf that I chose was one that I could wear when it's more chilly, like near the winter time. It's pretty lengthy, which is what I wanted, because then I could fold it and still be able to wrap it around my neck for a simple, through-the-loop sort of style. It was a purple colour and the material seemed somewhat lacey but warm...which is an odd mix. Anyways, the designing of it looks very creative. There is no absolute pattern to it, but it just looks like there's bumps or pricks on it, leaving a lumpy design. It's REALLY nice. My only problem is that I haven't worn it yet :/
          Okay, so my next one looks similar to this, ------------->

except that it is in a more pigmented blue. It's a blue cheetah print scarf. It is also pretty lengthy, sheer and has a thick width. I thought that it was pretty different from the classic, brown cheetah print  and it has a nice design when paried with a plain shirt (:

          Since it was a 3 for $10 deal, I had to buy another item. I originally chose 2 because I thought that I could create a combo with Vivien. However, that did not happen. What is great about this store, is that it doesn't HAVE to be another scarf. It just has to have the same 3/$10 deal. Therefore, I chose a braided belt. It's more on the light brown side and it's of medium thickness. I thought that it could be useful, for I only have a faded-jean-country-looking belt, that's really my moms' and a thick black belt.
          Then, we went to Urban Planet. There were AMAZING deals there. I wanted one of those fall jackets but there was no larger size :/ since I wanted it longer and wider, for I can have more movement >:)
Anyways, I ended up buying a lacey tank top. It's of a white colour with lace in the front, with white fabric under it and the strap part of it is just lace. It has a racer-back design. I plan to pair this with the cheetah scarf, to create an illusion of a cardigan xDD

          Lastly, before we left, I bought a honeydew bubble tea! You should try one if you haven't. This was a touchy topic for me, so this was different. Until next time >.<

Bloomed -> Blooming ~
-Melanie

Badminton Team and Farewell

          Okay, I know that I posted a March Break plan on my blog before I posted this but I don't think you guys will mind. Anyways, there is alot of Badminton news to share, which was pretty exciting yet exhausting. Oh and I may start doing short reviews on the White Pine books that I mentioned last post.

          I found out that I am probably on the Badminton team at my school. Many of you guys may be thinking, I thought you had a game on Tuesday, wouldn't you know whose on the team by then? NO. You see, on Tuesday, we had a practice at lunch and at the end of the practice, they made a first cut -_-. Of 25 people....and only 14 are playing -facepalm- . I didn't really mind that part, since I got to play on Tuesday! It was a home game against a school, that my coach recalled having to have defeated last year, so I was pretty confident. Also, what was coincidental was that I was playing girl's doubles A (which is 2 vs 2 and I felt the need to explain this because when I was talking to my cousin, Vivien, who doesn't play on a Badminton team, she asked what it is, also, A just means that you are the best girl's double on the team , since there are 2 girl's doubles pair, one A and one B, on 1 team) with a teammate who was from my old school and was on my team last year! That made we feel better since some people had to play doubles with someone who they haven't even know before. 

          I was informed that that school was a new team, so they were probably not as good. Anyways, we won that day, 18 - 11 . After that game I felt like I was on top of the world. Until our next game came......, which turned out to be Thursday. They once again, out of the 25 people in the first cut, they chose 14 players, which happened to me again, which was lucky because she said,"if you're playing on Tuesday, you will not be playing on Thursday, since the others who made the cut, must play" or she said something like that. What is unfair was that basically if you lose a game, you have less of a chance of being on the team but if you win, then you have more of a chance -.-. -RAGE- . Also, our coaches have such bad planning. They don't even schedule a practice on Wednesday, the day we have NO GAME, wtf? 

          Anyways, we played this school, who I was told was pretty good. I'm pretty sure we lost that game. I know for sure that we lost 5 of the 14 games and won 1 of the 14 games, so from that, I'm pretty sure we lost that game. What made me feel more poo-ier than how I already felt was that my coach considered putting us as girl's B doubles, since we lost -.- W-T-F .Most people lost their game, I don't see you considering that...-_- -RAGE- . Anyways, now our standings are now : 1-1. Playing Badminton is always fun, but I just wish that we would get more practice, like all the other teams. But instead, we practice whenever the COACHES want to, which is twice a week at lunch -_-. Also, I wanted to say that I'm proud because I'm a grade 9 on a varsity team,which is difficult.....unless of course, my team sucks....which is somewhat true? But we'll see once the season is over. So far, I'm predicting that we will appear somewhere in the middle of the standings for our region.

          Also, this is a very important post towards my cousin, Vivien, who has moved or currently is moving to the U.S. Vivien, I hope that you will be just as happy or happier in your new home, school, community, just as you were here. I will miss seeing you every week or every-other week. I will miss going on shopping adventures with you. I wish that you didn't have to move but I know that you guys made the decision to, so I will support that. Have fun, be safe and I'll see you in the Summer, where we'll go swimming, shopping and more!

Bloomed -> Blooming~
-Melanie

BLOG IT UP : March Break Plans

          I felt really hyped while typing the title, hence the "BLOG IT UP" part. Anyways, this post will consist of my plans for the March Break. It has been brought to my attention that the U.S. has a Spring Break that is in April, so I'm guessing that others that are not from where I am, don't know what March Break is. It is basically a whole week without school during mid-March, which happens to be the coming week. Some choose to go on vacations but normally I don't, however, I do have a packed week:
          French. I need to keep up with my French. For the past month or so, I haven't read, looked, wrote or listened to French. This is important to me because my French teacher, at the end of the semester (I go to a semestered school, if you weren't aware yet, which ended at the beginning of February), stressed so much about keeping up with French because it can be easily forgotten. Therefore, I renewed my french books and french discs, twice :$ , that I got at my local library to study in the March Break. I must continue to grasp the language, in order to complete the IB programme.
          Once again, about White Pine. Okay, so I just finished Blood Red Road, which is kind of a fail because it took me over a month to read it, but I finished :D. I really want to vote, which is why I need to read 5 books. So far I've read Blood Red Road and The Gathering (which I read during the summer of 2011, it's really good, btw.). I wanted to read alot during the March Break, so I put holds on A Chance To Dance For You, Death Benefits and Ashes, Ashes, at my local library. My school library has limited books now because people like me, read too slow, which means that there isn't anymore books left for others to read.On top of those 3 books that I'm planning to read, I must start my English book, Brave New World. I've heard that it's really disturbing in the beginning, which I'm not looking too forward to, but I do have a test on the first 2 chapters, after the March Break.
          Alrighty, now on top of THAT is some optional school work. Supposedly on Breaks or Holidays, teacher's aren't allowed to assign homework or assignments, while many still do. However, luckily, mine is optional. I have a Science test on the Monday back from March Break and a lab report due on the first Friday back. I plan to do my lab report this coming week, just so I get it done and over with. I also plan to practice my clarinet playing. This week after the testing, which I would like to remind you guys that I BOMBED xDD, we practiced on this duet piece. I decided to play the higher section, even though, as I've said before, the higher notes are harder for me to play. Anyways, we presented that on Wednesday and it went okay. For me, high C is hard to play, since I cover 7 holes and press down on 2 other keys. Luckily, this other clarinet player hit that note correctly because mine came out silent for a part xP.
          I'm going to end this post since it's getting pretty lengthy, just so I can type up another post! Currently, I am getting lots of ideas. Have a great March Break for those who are on break and for those who aren't, Work hard in school or work! xDD

Bloomed -> Blooming~
-Melanie

Recent Activities Update

          I know that I always promise to write new blog posts and originally promised 4 posts per week, which my cousin Vivien keeps reminding me about -.-, but I haven't and I'll admit that. However, I did not forget you, because I have promised myself that I am AT THE LEAST going to write 1 post per week. Now for some fresh updates that are currently happening.

          Remember, last post about my horrible band testing? Well, just today we had another one and it was equally or slightly more difficult, well guess what!?!?! I BOMBED THAT THING! xPPP No, but seriously, I was sooo proud of myself after he told me that a got a Level 4 (: . Okay, so to make this more thorough, I'll just explain what he does at every testing. So, he records our testings for I guess to review and to look at our sound waves. The difference between this time and last time was that last time, we had to perform in front of the class but this time it was in a smaller room with just the teacher and myself. So, I guess it was slightly less intimidating. The last time I performed, I had to restart probably 4 times before I got it going and  it was STILL horrible. Another thing that we did last time was that the class critiqued you and you know how I feel about criticism. Anyways, I listened and learned. This time, I focused on my dynamics ( volume ), tonguing ( you block the air with your tongue, which for me is touching my tongue to the reed) and tempo ( the speed of the beat). Also, one of my friend's Hannah, who I think reads my blog somewhat-secretly, said that I look different when I play the clarinet. So, today, I looked at my mirror while playing and I laughed at myself :P When I play, due to my tonguing, it looks like a have a EXTRA LARGE CHIN. LOLOL
         Okay, so next is an extra-curricular: the Badminton team. The tryouts just started last Wednesday, which is late compared to other schools. Basically what you do is rally with a partner(though I don't really, since I like to smash), and the coaches DON'T TEACH YOU ANYTHING. They mostly just pick the players that have been on a previous team before where they already have good skills. For me, I see everyone as competition, as I've said before, I am very competitive. Therefore, one of my classmates that I was rallying with today kept getting angry because I smashed plenty drop shots on her. I know how it feels like to be continually smashed on, so sometimes I would lighten up a bit(BUT THEY WERE SO MANY GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO SMASH D;). The highlight of my performance was having one of the coaches come up to me and ask for my first and last name, which she wrote down. Supposedly if she does that, you're basically on the team, according to some of my friends. However, that doesn't mean that I won't try just as hard in the next tryout. You know what is so messed up about this though? We have a game either tomorrow or Thursday and the practices/tryouts just started. Hooray for a great season. That lasts like 2 weeks -___________________-
          Finally, my reading club at school: White Pine. So, I am so far half way through my first book and I still have 1 month and 3 weeks to go to read another 4, at the least.(Btw, I will get to see KELLEY ARMSTRONG :DDDD). The thing about this is that whenever anyone recommends me a book now, I have to say, I'm busy reading other books from the White Pine selection, which doesn't consist of many. Currently, I am done the Chrysalids, though I now have a test and media project on it for English. I need to start my other English book: Brave New World. I am currently reading Blood Red Road for White Pine. MUST READ D;
          Any who, I must start my homework and work on my project now, so I'm trying to finish this up. I do plan on writing a whole bunch of blogs during the March Break, which is a 1 week spring break kind of thing for students. It is next week :DDDD! So, be aware that there WILL of  posts coming your way and many pre-written ones to be posted for future weeks.

Bloomed -> Blooming~
-Melanie