So...I'm moving. Again. I've moved four times in my entire life. Five if you count the hospital. From my grandparents' to a duplex down the street, from the duplex to a house, from that house to a trailer behind my aunt's house in a different town, from the trailer to my stepdad's house and now we're moving again. To another house. That used to belong to my stepdad's sister. Whee.
If you were wondering, I'm not too fond of moving...not my favorite thing to do. If I ever get married, I'll have to make sure to marry a guy who doesn't like moving either and we can just live together in the same house until we die.
Lately, I've been packing things a bit and today I moved some of them downstairs. I still have stuff to pack and move. I've also come to the conclusion that I have way too many clothes. When we get moved to the other house, I plan to look through my clothes and decide what I absolutely have to keep. The sentimental clothes for sure, and then the stuff that I wear often, then the rest, I guess I'll just have to put up on Facebook or give to a thrift store or something. The only thing I know I don't have too much of is books and sharp objects. You can never have too many of those.
At this new house, I will have the entire upstairs to myself, as well as a "caboose" that's out front.
The caboose is pretty much just a playhouse that my stepdad's nieces used to play in. I will be turning it into a "Geek Out Station". I will pain the outside either white or black, then decorate it with color and stuff like that. We're going to get better doors on it and turn the stairs into spirally type stairs. There's a porch on the back and we're going to close it in partially and use the closed in part for a storage shed. Currently, the inside is pink. I hate pink. It is in bad need of being re-sheetrocked, so we're going to do that, give it a tin roof, and I'm strongly considering putting cork board on all the walls. I'll take pictures eventually, so y'all know what I'm talking about when I say putting this there and that in the other place. I'm probably going to paint the walls blueish-green. Then, the ceiling I'm going to paint light blue from the edges to black in the middle and hang little glow in the dark stars from the center beam. The floor will probably just be wooden. On the inside part of the outside door, I'm going to put all manner of things Narnia that I can. I will have a little cabinet to put copies of my books in, to take with me when Mom and Doug go to selling places, so I can sell some of my books (hopefully). There will also be a bookshelf that I'll be putting my filled up sketchbooks and other art supplies on. I think we're going to find a way to get light and warmth out there and basically, it will be my...well...geek out station!
In the upstairs, I'll have my room, a guest-room, an office/living room and a bathroom! I'll have to take pictures of the upstairs as well. I have really big plans for it. Now I just need to get my friends to come over and spend the night! Of course, if they're my female friends, they'll sleep in my room...it's my male friends that would be stuck into the guest room.
I'd really like to get a small couch for my living room/office, so if anyone knows of a small couch that they don't want and would be willing to give away or sell for...really cheap...I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know. Thank you!
Also, you may have noticed that there are now labels on my blog posts! I figured out how to do that and went back and labelled every single post I've ever made. So...that might help y'all if you're trying to find something in specific. Lata!
~Katie
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Poll
If you look to the right of this post, you will see a poll. This poll is asking you what you would like to read more of on my blog. Rants and musings, like what I typically post; personal things...like...my feelings, stuff like that; my daily life, just the things that go on all day in my life!
I was just curious as to what my readers like to read, hence why I'm asking. I may or may not change it up a bit, but I just wanted some input...so...take the time to vote!
~Katie
I was just curious as to what my readers like to read, hence why I'm asking. I may or may not change it up a bit, but I just wanted some input...so...take the time to vote!
~Katie
Musings of a Child of a Crafter
As the
child of a crafter, I have always had cloth to sew, a sewing machine to sew on,
needles and thread to sew with, yarn unlimited to crochet, plastic canvas…knot
up…. And of course, if there’s something
I really want or am interested in, I just go to my mom and say, “Hey, Mom, how
hard would it be to make (insert crafty item here)?”
I have
always had someone to fix my torn clothing, make
clothing, make a cape, make a doll carrier when I was younger and played with
dolls, fix a dress, make a purse, make a computer case…I may be exaggerating my
mom’s skills, but barely. She is super talented.
As the
child of a crafter, I also am familiar with craft shows. Load the vehicle the day before. Get there early…sometimes before the sun is
up, if it’s a one day thing, set up the tables, put down cloths, attempt to
arrange things in the best manner to get the attention of those who happen to
pass by, while at the same time, making the best use of the space provided.
Then the
day is spent, wandering around the craft show, looking at everything and maybe spending a little bit of money that could also
be spent on food. Always coming back to
the booth, letting Mom go look at
everything as well. Hoping and praying
that someone will buy the very fancy, forty-dollar, hand crocheted, baby dress,
that took hours to make.
Then, at
the end of the craft show, we pack everything away again. Load up.
Go home. And next craft show, we
do it all over again. And guess
what? It’s time consuming, it takes a
lot of time, usually we’re a bit tired at the end of the day…but we love it.
~Katie
P.S. This was written while I was away from internet, on Word, so if the format is strange, that's why.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Congrats to Lucy Regina!
My good friend and fellow author, Lucy Regina (this is a pen name), has finally republished her book, Seven Troubles! I had the honor of being the editor and am very grateful to have been allowed to be a part of her publication.
To buy her book, click this link and follow the procedures: Buy Seven Troubles
To like her page and support her, click THIS link: Lucy Regina's Facebook Page
Have a nice day!
~Katie
To buy her book, click this link and follow the procedures: Buy Seven Troubles
To like her page and support her, click THIS link: Lucy Regina's Facebook Page
Have a nice day!
~Katie
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Scholar's Bowl
So, on Thursday, we had a Scholars Bowl meet. I really enjoy them, because I love trivia. But I just decided I had to share some stories about this one.
Basically, for those of you who have never been in Scholars Bowl or who know little to nothing about it, there are many teams who go to a host school and are pitted against each other in various rooms. There are up to five people on each team and often, each person will specialize in a topic.
You are taken to a room with a reader, a scorekeeper, a timekeeper, and a buzzer-keeper.... The reader will read a question and if you think that you have the answer, you will...well...buzz in. You wait to be acknowledged, then answer. If you get it correct, your team gets ten points. If you get it wrong, the only team allowed to answer the question is the opposite team. If you interrupt the reader, and get it wrong, you are docked points and the next team is free to buzz in with an answer or interrupt the reader as they reread the question from the beginning, with no consequences if they answer incorrectly. If you get it correct, you get ten points, as usual.
It was the very last round and we were against a team to win first place. Around question five, the enemy team interrupted and got it wrong. Then, our team interrupted and also got it wrong. Both teams were docked five points.
At the very last round, we were tied. 35 to 35.... It was time for a tie-breaker question. Then, the enemy team coach said, "Hold up, I looked in the rules, and you shouldn't have docked them. It should be their team 40, my team 35." And because of her honesty...we won.
Call me stupid, crazy, whatever...I really wanted to get first place. All the other meets I'd gone to, we placed third and I just really wanted to place first. Really bad. So I was praying that we'd win first...and because of her honesty not only did we win first, but she got acknowledged at the end with the awards, because my team's coach told the officiator guy. I also told her thank you. It would have been so easy for her to have just let them read the tiebreaker question and her team could have one off of that. But she was honest...and that cost her team the match. They did get second, overall though.
Then, we went to Freddie's for some food. I um...forgot to take money....
We have two people on our team, Reed and Ryan, and their parents come to every match. Kind of the way my mom and stepdad come to all my choir and singing things. They said that because we won first, they were going to treat everyone to supper! Their dad wouldn't even let me get a mini shake...he made me get a large...which is still in my freezer...sitting...with just enough to make up a mini shake gone from it...because I couldn't finish it....
But the entire time we were at Freddie's I was just all like, "God...thank you so much! You're just looking out for me all over the place!" In short, that was the best Scholars Bowl meet I've ever had and one of the best days of my life.
~Katie
Basically, for those of you who have never been in Scholars Bowl or who know little to nothing about it, there are many teams who go to a host school and are pitted against each other in various rooms. There are up to five people on each team and often, each person will specialize in a topic.
You are taken to a room with a reader, a scorekeeper, a timekeeper, and a buzzer-keeper.... The reader will read a question and if you think that you have the answer, you will...well...buzz in. You wait to be acknowledged, then answer. If you get it correct, your team gets ten points. If you get it wrong, the only team allowed to answer the question is the opposite team. If you interrupt the reader, and get it wrong, you are docked points and the next team is free to buzz in with an answer or interrupt the reader as they reread the question from the beginning, with no consequences if they answer incorrectly. If you get it correct, you get ten points, as usual.
It was the very last round and we were against a team to win first place. Around question five, the enemy team interrupted and got it wrong. Then, our team interrupted and also got it wrong. Both teams were docked five points.
At the very last round, we were tied. 35 to 35.... It was time for a tie-breaker question. Then, the enemy team coach said, "Hold up, I looked in the rules, and you shouldn't have docked them. It should be their team 40, my team 35." And because of her honesty...we won.
Call me stupid, crazy, whatever...I really wanted to get first place. All the other meets I'd gone to, we placed third and I just really wanted to place first. Really bad. So I was praying that we'd win first...and because of her honesty not only did we win first, but she got acknowledged at the end with the awards, because my team's coach told the officiator guy. I also told her thank you. It would have been so easy for her to have just let them read the tiebreaker question and her team could have one off of that. But she was honest...and that cost her team the match. They did get second, overall though.
Then, we went to Freddie's for some food. I um...forgot to take money....
We have two people on our team, Reed and Ryan, and their parents come to every match. Kind of the way my mom and stepdad come to all my choir and singing things. They said that because we won first, they were going to treat everyone to supper! Their dad wouldn't even let me get a mini shake...he made me get a large...which is still in my freezer...sitting...with just enough to make up a mini shake gone from it...because I couldn't finish it....
But the entire time we were at Freddie's I was just all like, "God...thank you so much! You're just looking out for me all over the place!" In short, that was the best Scholars Bowl meet I've ever had and one of the best days of my life.
~Katie
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
The Benefits of the Different Schools I've Attended
As many of my readers are aware, I have attended three different "types" of schools. I was homeschooled from Pre-K-8, attended a private school from 9-11, and am currently attending a public school for my senior year.
All of these schools are different, all of these schools have different pros and cons, as illustrated in these posts: Pros and Cons of Homeschooling and Private Schooling, Pros and Cons of Public Vs. Private Schools. Of course, these schools have all benefited me in different ways, and that is what I am going to talk about now.
Homeschooling
While I was homeschooled, my mother also worked a part time job. As I mentioned in my previous post, "My Hero", my mom is indeed my hero. She homeschooled me and spent time with me, so I wouldn't be raised by teachers and daycare workers. I don't know if any of you are familiar with the phrase, "Children who are loved at home go to school to learn, but children who are not, go to school to be loved". It's not that my mother wouldn't have loved me...but I would have probably been able to spend three hours...if that...with my mother, instead, I got to spend my days with her.
I was able to learn in methods that I learned from easily and I was able to do this without the distraction of other children. I was able to learn without being picked on constantly (which, there was a family we would visit, whose children did typically pick on me....) or being tempted to talk to my neighbor instead of listening to the teacher.
Basically, I was able to focus on my learning and, when I went to the private school, the only thing I was behind in was math. But math has always been a struggle for me...so.... I was able to learn who I was on my own, without constantly feeling the need to fit in with those my own age...as a result...I rarely fit in with those my own age.
Private Schooling
While I attended the private school, I was introduced to a brick-and-mortar school, on a smaller scale. While I can teach myself many things, this school gave me the teachers to help me. Without this school, I would not have had a wonderful choir teacher who managed to teach me how to project and sing loudly and helped me discover my nice sized range.
While I was homeschooled, I didn't have grades, at this school, I got my first grades and felt the thrill of getting As...now it's a bit of a requirement and if I don't get an A, I flip out and do everything I can to get my grade up, which of course, should be a natural thing for all students to aspire to...but alas is not. Of course, I understand that some people just aren't book smart...some people are hand smart. They can do amazing things with their hands, but just can't pass tests...and they aren't any more smart or stupid than someone who can ace tests no problem.
Public School
While I currently attend my public school, I've learned how to navigate an iPad (I hate them with a burning passion), how many things you can actually do without paper (I still prefer paper). I have so many more options here than I had in any of my previous schools. There is an in school counselor--two, actually, but I believe that one is in training--I was in a musical, which has been one of my dreams ever since I was little, the choir is huge and I can audition for solos, instead of them just being assigned to me or someone else.
There are so many more options for me and I love it. It is, of course, a smaller public school, but it's still a public school. There are clubs and classes that we couldn't have at the private school and of course can't have in a homeschool consisting of one.
Quite frankly, each of these schools have been a stepping stone or stairway for the next school, and honestly, each time I've changed schools, it has been for the better, for one reason or another. I am a staunch supporter of homeschooling...whether I support a private school depends on the private school, but they are a good idea...and not all public schools are bad.
~Katie
All of these schools are different, all of these schools have different pros and cons, as illustrated in these posts: Pros and Cons of Homeschooling and Private Schooling, Pros and Cons of Public Vs. Private Schools. Of course, these schools have all benefited me in different ways, and that is what I am going to talk about now.
Homeschooling
While I was homeschooled, my mother also worked a part time job. As I mentioned in my previous post, "My Hero", my mom is indeed my hero. She homeschooled me and spent time with me, so I wouldn't be raised by teachers and daycare workers. I don't know if any of you are familiar with the phrase, "Children who are loved at home go to school to learn, but children who are not, go to school to be loved". It's not that my mother wouldn't have loved me...but I would have probably been able to spend three hours...if that...with my mother, instead, I got to spend my days with her.
I was able to learn in methods that I learned from easily and I was able to do this without the distraction of other children. I was able to learn without being picked on constantly (which, there was a family we would visit, whose children did typically pick on me....) or being tempted to talk to my neighbor instead of listening to the teacher.
Basically, I was able to focus on my learning and, when I went to the private school, the only thing I was behind in was math. But math has always been a struggle for me...so.... I was able to learn who I was on my own, without constantly feeling the need to fit in with those my own age...as a result...I rarely fit in with those my own age.
Private Schooling
While I attended the private school, I was introduced to a brick-and-mortar school, on a smaller scale. While I can teach myself many things, this school gave me the teachers to help me. Without this school, I would not have had a wonderful choir teacher who managed to teach me how to project and sing loudly and helped me discover my nice sized range.
While I was homeschooled, I didn't have grades, at this school, I got my first grades and felt the thrill of getting As...now it's a bit of a requirement and if I don't get an A, I flip out and do everything I can to get my grade up, which of course, should be a natural thing for all students to aspire to...but alas is not. Of course, I understand that some people just aren't book smart...some people are hand smart. They can do amazing things with their hands, but just can't pass tests...and they aren't any more smart or stupid than someone who can ace tests no problem.
Public School
While I currently attend my public school, I've learned how to navigate an iPad (I hate them with a burning passion), how many things you can actually do without paper (I still prefer paper). I have so many more options here than I had in any of my previous schools. There is an in school counselor--two, actually, but I believe that one is in training--I was in a musical, which has been one of my dreams ever since I was little, the choir is huge and I can audition for solos, instead of them just being assigned to me or someone else.
There are so many more options for me and I love it. It is, of course, a smaller public school, but it's still a public school. There are clubs and classes that we couldn't have at the private school and of course can't have in a homeschool consisting of one.
Quite frankly, each of these schools have been a stepping stone or stairway for the next school, and honestly, each time I've changed schools, it has been for the better, for one reason or another. I am a staunch supporter of homeschooling...whether I support a private school depends on the private school, but they are a good idea...and not all public schools are bad.
~Katie
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
My Hero
In my Business Economics class, we were told to write about our heroes. I wrote about mine and decided to share what I wrote, as I was cleaning out my binder (good grief it was a mess!!!)
My hero is my mom. From my birth, until I was almost sixteen, she raised me alone, the way she thought I should be raised. I was homeschooled 'til highschool, despite many people continually saying that I should attend 'the Bible school'.
She worked as a suburban driver, so that she would be able to be home and actually there for me. She has continually giving things up for me. I know I have her support in whatever I do. We have the type of friendship/relationship, that even if I don't see things the way she does and vice versa, she will accept that and vice versa.
And, despite the fact that she is my mother, she allows me to make my own choices. She is strong and beautiful and tough and she is my hero.
~Katie
My hero is my mom. From my birth, until I was almost sixteen, she raised me alone, the way she thought I should be raised. I was homeschooled 'til highschool, despite many people continually saying that I should attend 'the Bible school'.
She worked as a suburban driver, so that she would be able to be home and actually there for me. She has continually giving things up for me. I know I have her support in whatever I do. We have the type of friendship/relationship, that even if I don't see things the way she does and vice versa, she will accept that and vice versa.
And, despite the fact that she is my mother, she allows me to make my own choices. She is strong and beautiful and tough and she is my hero.
~Katie
Saturday, November 28, 2015
The Thankful List
Yeah, I've been meaning to do this for a few days. It is, as it states, a thankful list! Which will of course...list things I am...wait for it...thankful for!
- I am thankful for League of Legends. Yeah, it seems stupid and cheesy, but I have actually met some of my best friends there and it's also a place where I can go and "hang out" with my friends who live far away.
- Obviously, my family. I had a blast with them yesterday when we celebrated our family Thanksgiving. My uncle can go from lying flat on his stomach, then going to a standing position, with my cousin and I on his back, our weights totaling over 280 pounds.
- My friends. Definitely these people. They give me hugs, they give me love, company, support. I'm even going with a friend today to see a movie, unless the weather gets too bad.
- Music. I honestly don't know that I would still be here without music.
- Art. What did I put for music? That applies here as well. In fact, in English, the teacher had a journal prompt, asking if we thought that FHS should cut out the music and art programs to offer the more "schoolbooky" type classes at an advanced level. I bet you can't guess what I said! Maybe someday I'll share it.
- I am thankful that I got the solo I wanted for the Christmas Pageant! It's a beautiful solo. My one problem with it is that it's called "Shepherds", but practically tells the story of the wise men...just a slight issue....
- I am thankful for my not one, not two, but three home churches. I have a Sunday morning church, that does not have church at night, so we go to my grandparents' church, not only to spend time with them, but to go to night church there, then of course, my church that I go to on Wednesday nights. I've just recently started going, but so far, I enjoy it.
- I am thankful that even though I'm 18, I don't have to learn how to adult alone. I have my mom, my stepdad, my friends, my family to help me.
- I'm thankful for my school and the way so many people have practically adopted me and have kept an eye on me to make sure I adjusted well. I'm thankful for the clubs I am a part of, like FCA...mostly FCA.... I'm thankful for all the good teachers and students.
- I am thankful for my freedom of speech. I'm glad I can type whatever I want on this blog. I can cuss FHS out, I can cuss IBS out, I can cuss Obama out and I have that right. Of course, I'm not going to cuss anyone out, but I could. I could also elope, as I have told many people, but I don't plan on doing it for awhile.
- I'm thankful for how easy it is to publish nowadays! I can write the stories that flow through my mind in colorful pictures and share them globally...and I'm glad for that.
- I am thankful for God's goodness and grace, because without them, I would not be here! And I'm thankful that he knows what's best. And the thing is, sometimes he lets you go through what seems like misery...and very well might be...so that he can give you something. Like...people in my life that have made me miserable...because of one of them in particular, I have met friends that I will never let go.
I have so much to be thankful for and that's not everything I'm thankful for, it's just everything that's popped into my head as I was typing. And the best part? We don't have to wait for it to be Thanksgiving to be thankful! We can be thankful on Christmas, and Halloween, and our birthdays, and Valentine's Day! And you know, any other random day or holiday in the year.
~Katie
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Church vs. Gym
I'm sure we've all (well...a lot of us) seen this picture on Facebook before:
I have issues with this.
When you go to church and are greeted by a nice couple, who says that they're Christians, the husband is a deacon, the wife is a Sunday school teacher, you're impressed! But then on Tuesday, you see the husband cussing out a kid for walking across the yard and the wife screaming at the husband telling him to quit yelling at the kid, you're kind of going to be a bit skeptical on the Christian thing....
Or say if you told the couple something in confidence, then you heard them gossiping about it to their neighbor? Would you believe them to be Christians? No. That is called a hypocrite.
However, if you go to the gym and see a man or a woman who has a little extra weight and ask them if they believe themselves to be in shape...the answer will most likely be "no.". You could even ask someone who looks like they're in shape if they're in shape and because they know themselves and their body, they could also answer with a "no.", simply because they know that they were in shape and now aren't so much.
What's the difference? One claims to be something that they aren't and the other knows what they are and owns up to it. Am I saying that not going to church and using hypocrites as an example is a good thing? Uh...no, not really. For the majority of churches, there will always be hypocrites...but there will also be good, true Christians. Sometimes you need to change churches and that is okay...so long as it's cleared by God.
~Katie
I have issues with this.
When you go to church and are greeted by a nice couple, who says that they're Christians, the husband is a deacon, the wife is a Sunday school teacher, you're impressed! But then on Tuesday, you see the husband cussing out a kid for walking across the yard and the wife screaming at the husband telling him to quit yelling at the kid, you're kind of going to be a bit skeptical on the Christian thing....
Or say if you told the couple something in confidence, then you heard them gossiping about it to their neighbor? Would you believe them to be Christians? No. That is called a hypocrite.
However, if you go to the gym and see a man or a woman who has a little extra weight and ask them if they believe themselves to be in shape...the answer will most likely be "no.". You could even ask someone who looks like they're in shape if they're in shape and because they know themselves and their body, they could also answer with a "no.", simply because they know that they were in shape and now aren't so much.
What's the difference? One claims to be something that they aren't and the other knows what they are and owns up to it. Am I saying that not going to church and using hypocrites as an example is a good thing? Uh...no, not really. For the majority of churches, there will always be hypocrites...but there will also be good, true Christians. Sometimes you need to change churches and that is okay...so long as it's cleared by God.
~Katie
Thursday, November 5, 2015
A Scary Thought
Do you want to know a really scary thought? No, probably not...people rarely want to know scary thoughts. But...it's just something I've been thinking lately...don't ask why, just accept it.... The scariest part of rapists and murders and pedophiles etc., is that...they were all babies once. Little...innocent...helpless...then they were little kids. Running around, getting into all kinds of stuff, being cute. Then they were older. They went to school, maybe went to church, bought stuff at the grocery story, went to WalMart.... They probably had friends. They had people who believed in them and loved them and cared about them!
And now...they're murderers...rapists...pedophiles...and it's got me sitting here going "How does that even work?!" We'd like to say that those people are bad and terrible...and they are...but the thing is, we forget that they had friends at one point. Maybe they had a good job. Maybe they ran on the treadmill at the gym next to you. And then...something inside them...somehow...just snapped! And I'm over here all confused like...why?! How?!
And that's Katie's scary/creepy thought of the day.
~Katie
And now...they're murderers...rapists...pedophiles...and it's got me sitting here going "How does that even work?!" We'd like to say that those people are bad and terrible...and they are...but the thing is, we forget that they had friends at one point. Maybe they had a good job. Maybe they ran on the treadmill at the gym next to you. And then...something inside them...somehow...just snapped! And I'm over here all confused like...why?! How?!
And that's Katie's scary/creepy thought of the day.
~Katie
Monday, November 2, 2015
Controversy in a Musical?
Okay, you've heard me mention my school's musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and how there are some cuss words that were being changed and all that. I'm not sure how much else I said would be changed, but I decided to share some of it.
In the original, one of the spellers has two gay fathers. We're changing that to adoptive parents. The cast and crew of our musical went to watch another production of the musical and ate at Braum's afterward (which was delicious) and as the production we watched was done by a college, they didn't change a thing.
While at Braum's I was sitting with one of the crew members and I told her that some of the things in that production, we were doing differently. In the original, one of the kids gets an erection...and it causes him to lose the spelling bee. Then he sings about his "Unfortunate Erection". Thankfully, the writers realized that some schools may not want to do that version and gave another version where he sings about his "Unfortunate Distraction", which was daydreaming about a girl in the audience. She was understanding of that change, because yeah, even though it was hilarious, a lot of people would find it inappropriate.
However, when I told her that we changed the two gay dads to adoptive parents, she became more defensive and asked why people were being homophobes (I have a lot of issues with that word, simply because it implies that people are scared of homosexuals...disagreement does not mean fear, nor does it mean hate....). When our music teacher told us about the change, she said that she personally didn't have any problems with gays and I told this girl that and told her that the teacher also said that it was changed because of how conservative this area is. She wasn't happy with that.
What I thought of later, that I should have told her, but couldn't, because I hadn't thought of it, was that...this is a high school drama. Not a college drama. Not a Broadway drama. This is high school. We are doing this for fun, not to take a stand on gay marriage or abortion or anything of the sort. There is no reason to have controversy in a high school production.
If a group of high schoolers got together and decided that they wanted to promote gay marriage or abortion or spanking or even take a stand against these things, that would be one thing, but for the fall musical, it is just unnecessary. For a college, go ahead. Broadway...go ahead.... But not a high school.
This is designed to be humorous and entertaining...not for promoting someone's views. Let it be fun, funny and enjoyable and forget the controversy...please....
~Katie
In the original, one of the spellers has two gay fathers. We're changing that to adoptive parents. The cast and crew of our musical went to watch another production of the musical and ate at Braum's afterward (which was delicious) and as the production we watched was done by a college, they didn't change a thing.
While at Braum's I was sitting with one of the crew members and I told her that some of the things in that production, we were doing differently. In the original, one of the kids gets an erection...and it causes him to lose the spelling bee. Then he sings about his "Unfortunate Erection". Thankfully, the writers realized that some schools may not want to do that version and gave another version where he sings about his "Unfortunate Distraction", which was daydreaming about a girl in the audience. She was understanding of that change, because yeah, even though it was hilarious, a lot of people would find it inappropriate.
However, when I told her that we changed the two gay dads to adoptive parents, she became more defensive and asked why people were being homophobes (I have a lot of issues with that word, simply because it implies that people are scared of homosexuals...disagreement does not mean fear, nor does it mean hate....). When our music teacher told us about the change, she said that she personally didn't have any problems with gays and I told this girl that and told her that the teacher also said that it was changed because of how conservative this area is. She wasn't happy with that.
What I thought of later, that I should have told her, but couldn't, because I hadn't thought of it, was that...this is a high school drama. Not a college drama. Not a Broadway drama. This is high school. We are doing this for fun, not to take a stand on gay marriage or abortion or anything of the sort. There is no reason to have controversy in a high school production.
If a group of high schoolers got together and decided that they wanted to promote gay marriage or abortion or spanking or even take a stand against these things, that would be one thing, but for the fall musical, it is just unnecessary. For a college, go ahead. Broadway...go ahead.... But not a high school.
This is designed to be humorous and entertaining...not for promoting someone's views. Let it be fun, funny and enjoyable and forget the controversy...please....
~Katie
Sunday, November 1, 2015
IBS vs. FHS Teacher Showdown...part 2...
This is continued from IBS vs. FHS Teacher Showdown, which you can find...here.
Announcer: We have returned after a day long break for cookies, ice cream, and Netflix to continue our IBS vs. FHS teacher showdown. From IBS, we have the music teacher, Mr. Miller; the science/history teacher, Brother Todd; the former English teacher, Miss Montgomery; the former English teacher Mrs. B., the former English teacher Mrs. Weinand; and last but not least, the P.E. Teacher, Brother Steve!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: And from FHS, we have the music teacher, Mrs. Fischer; the science teacher, Mr. Weilert; the English teacher, Ms. Schlabach and last but not least, the weights/P.E. teacher, Mr Barnett!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: Last time, Mr. Miller and Mrs. Fischer tied...Mr. Weilert and Brother Todd tied...and now, we're ready for the English teachers! English teachers--my goodness there's a lot of you.... Would it be 'a' university or 'an' university? Write your answers on the white boards provided, then hold them up for the audience to see.
Miss Montgomery: *a university*
Mrs. B: *an university*
Mrs. Weinand: *a university*
Ms. Schlabach: *a university*
Announcer: I'm sorry, Mrs. B, you are incorrect. It would be 'a' university, because although it starts with a vowel, it makes a consonant sound. BUT you are not disqualified. We will continue with our next question. Have you, as an English teacher, made your students write at least one essay a year?
Miss Montgomery: Yes, ours was about what actually swallowed Jonah, they did research and everything.
Mrs. B: Yes, they chose their own topic and wrote about it using the internet and practicing using note cards for their citations.
Mrs. Weinand: Yes, they chose their own topic and wrote about it using the internet, books and any other sources they found, but they had to have books as a source as well. I let them keep track of their citations how they wanted, but they still had to cite them with MLA format.
Ms. Schlabach: Yes, they're actually in the process of writing an essay comparing two different translations of Sophocles' Antigone, MLA format, as expected.
Announcer: Very good! A tie! And now...the students will be the ones deciding your fate.... Miss Montgomery...your students say that you taught well and they knew they better work. Mrs. B, a note from one of your students says that they didn't particularly like you as a teacher, but when they were able to just talk to you, they enjoyed it. Mrs. Weinand, your students completely loved you and they said something about...apple pie? Ms. Schlabach, And again, no complaints for you! It's a three way tie, between Miss Montgomery, Mrs. Weinand and Ms. Schlabach! Mrs. B...I'm sorry. BUT you get a consolation prize of a $100 gift certificate to spend however you like, wherever you like!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: And now...for the final two...Mr. Barnett and Brother Steve, please step forward. What are your workout regimes for your students like.
Brother Steve: Well...we mostly just play games. *laughs* Volleyball when it's cold, softball when it's warm, sometimes we play softball when the girls are complaining that it's too cold, but they can live with it.
Mr. Barnett: We play games on Wednesdays and the rest of the time, we're in the weights room, lifting and doing other workouts.
Announcer: Well, either workout regime sounds fun and of course, we all understand that IBS does not have sufficient funds for a weights room, so the weights room does not play into whether or not a teacher is disqualified or not. Annnd...again a tie! But, how do the students feel about these men? Of Brother Steve... "Brother Steve is a kind hearted man and I greatly enjoyed his P.E. class. My only complaint is that he constantly picked the same people to be the team captains.". Of Mr. Barnett... "Mr Barnett is an easy going, fun loving guy, who even at a public school is still a very good Christian influence.". Again with the ties! What was the point of this even? Why have a battle! They all tied! *flips desk over, muttering about wasting life away* That's it, I quit! I WANTED BLOODSHED! I WANTED FIGHTS!
*audience watches with odd expressions*
Announcer: I WANTED THERE TO BE A FIGHT AND BE BIASEDNESS! WHY CAN'T I HAVE BIAS HERE? IT'S NOT FAIR! *begins flailing arms and legs, kicking and hitting the floor* I WANTED A FIGHT! WHY COULDN'T I HAVE A FIGHT? WHY DO THE TEACHERS ALL HAVE TO BE EQUAL?! WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
Katie: And this draws to a conclusion the IBS vs. FHS Teacher Showdown.... Now excuse me while I take care of our announcer....
~Katie
Announcer: We have returned after a day long break for cookies, ice cream, and Netflix to continue our IBS vs. FHS teacher showdown. From IBS, we have the music teacher, Mr. Miller; the science/history teacher, Brother Todd; the former English teacher, Miss Montgomery; the former English teacher Mrs. B., the former English teacher Mrs. Weinand; and last but not least, the P.E. Teacher, Brother Steve!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: And from FHS, we have the music teacher, Mrs. Fischer; the science teacher, Mr. Weilert; the English teacher, Ms. Schlabach and last but not least, the weights/P.E. teacher, Mr Barnett!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: Last time, Mr. Miller and Mrs. Fischer tied...Mr. Weilert and Brother Todd tied...and now, we're ready for the English teachers! English teachers--my goodness there's a lot of you.... Would it be 'a' university or 'an' university? Write your answers on the white boards provided, then hold them up for the audience to see.
Miss Montgomery: *a university*
Mrs. B: *an university*
Mrs. Weinand: *a university*
Ms. Schlabach: *a university*
Announcer: I'm sorry, Mrs. B, you are incorrect. It would be 'a' university, because although it starts with a vowel, it makes a consonant sound. BUT you are not disqualified. We will continue with our next question. Have you, as an English teacher, made your students write at least one essay a year?
Miss Montgomery: Yes, ours was about what actually swallowed Jonah, they did research and everything.
Mrs. B: Yes, they chose their own topic and wrote about it using the internet and practicing using note cards for their citations.
Mrs. Weinand: Yes, they chose their own topic and wrote about it using the internet, books and any other sources they found, but they had to have books as a source as well. I let them keep track of their citations how they wanted, but they still had to cite them with MLA format.
Ms. Schlabach: Yes, they're actually in the process of writing an essay comparing two different translations of Sophocles' Antigone, MLA format, as expected.
Announcer: Very good! A tie! And now...the students will be the ones deciding your fate.... Miss Montgomery...your students say that you taught well and they knew they better work. Mrs. B, a note from one of your students says that they didn't particularly like you as a teacher, but when they were able to just talk to you, they enjoyed it. Mrs. Weinand, your students completely loved you and they said something about...apple pie? Ms. Schlabach, And again, no complaints for you! It's a three way tie, between Miss Montgomery, Mrs. Weinand and Ms. Schlabach! Mrs. B...I'm sorry. BUT you get a consolation prize of a $100 gift certificate to spend however you like, wherever you like!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: And now...for the final two...Mr. Barnett and Brother Steve, please step forward. What are your workout regimes for your students like.
Brother Steve: Well...we mostly just play games. *laughs* Volleyball when it's cold, softball when it's warm, sometimes we play softball when the girls are complaining that it's too cold, but they can live with it.
Mr. Barnett: We play games on Wednesdays and the rest of the time, we're in the weights room, lifting and doing other workouts.
Announcer: Well, either workout regime sounds fun and of course, we all understand that IBS does not have sufficient funds for a weights room, so the weights room does not play into whether or not a teacher is disqualified or not. Annnd...again a tie! But, how do the students feel about these men? Of Brother Steve... "Brother Steve is a kind hearted man and I greatly enjoyed his P.E. class. My only complaint is that he constantly picked the same people to be the team captains.". Of Mr. Barnett... "Mr Barnett is an easy going, fun loving guy, who even at a public school is still a very good Christian influence.". Again with the ties! What was the point of this even? Why have a battle! They all tied! *flips desk over, muttering about wasting life away* That's it, I quit! I WANTED BLOODSHED! I WANTED FIGHTS!
*audience watches with odd expressions*
Announcer: I WANTED THERE TO BE A FIGHT AND BE BIASEDNESS! WHY CAN'T I HAVE BIAS HERE? IT'S NOT FAIR! *begins flailing arms and legs, kicking and hitting the floor* I WANTED A FIGHT! WHY COULDN'T I HAVE A FIGHT? WHY DO THE TEACHERS ALL HAVE TO BE EQUAL?! WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
Katie: And this draws to a conclusion the IBS vs. FHS Teacher Showdown.... Now excuse me while I take care of our announcer....
~Katie
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