I went to a Journalism Conference at a campus near where I live today... If you don't know, I write for my school paper, and I love it. The people, the writing, knowing the information, the food...everything. My first story was about two new music venues opening up in my city, the second was about a club at school, and the one I just wrote is about President-elect Obama's appointments. I chose to write that one because a) it was the better of two options because I was sick the day we got our first and second choices, and b) I felt that I could just deliever the facts without being biased.

You know what? I did it. (: You can't tell what I think in it at all...although most already know how I feel about it...er, the people on the staff and some friends outside of it, anyway.

Work...school...friends....barn...theatre. That's my life. Allie and I are on running crew for the Complete History of America, Abridged with a great group of people, and I'm so excited for it. I'm not doing stage crew for the rest of the plays this year-I need to start getting Twende [and hopefully a Western Pleasure horse of my trainer's] ready for show season.





That's my baby. (: Twende Haraka - six-year-old Thoroughbred, ex-racer.

I went to a concert in October... Family Force 5... OH my. I'm pretty sure that was the most fun I've ever had at a concert. Second row, heck yes. (: It was amazing.

Hm... Nothing else to talk about, I think...

Kirstin-call me...text me...email me... I miss talking to you. ):...(:

-Jeni

I'm a Republican...so don't read if you don't want to.

Have you ever stopped to think how much EASIER life would be if we didn't care about politics?

I am not even old enough to vote. I know the issues, know what I stand for, know WHY I stand for them. And I had to watch it all unfold in my living room.

The good thing? We get another try in four years. Considering there's a United States of America in four years time.

Whatever.
Obama has my respect because of his position, and I will stand behind him because unlike some people, I am always proud to be an American.
I don't have to LIKE the guy, I just have to accept it and stand behind him and respect him.
Not that a lot of those who left Bush in the dirt even pretended to stand behind him or respect him in the least.
But I'm above that.
So I guess I'll just deal.

-Jeni

Mother Nature Stuns Ohioans

Remember Hurricane Ike ? I should hope so. It hasn't been that long ago. It hit Texas, yeah? Well, in case you are geographyly-challenged, here is

TEXAS

and here is















OHIO.

See the distance there? Remember that for a second as I tell you that Ohio got hit with what would be considered a level one hurricane on the coast. Remember the distance?...HOW does that WORK?

on Sunday, all day, we got hit by fierce winds, which knocked down trees, power lines, small children, and of course, the tomato plants out back. Our tree, which is sort of diseased and needs to be taken out but it is a lot to do so, had a limb fall off and fall not the right way, which would be into the yard, but right into our deck and my brother's window. Great. My neighbor's tree's branch broke off and fall into the sidewalk leading up to his house. He moves his cars from his driveway, and not twenty minutes later, the rest of his tree falls into the driveway. How's that for luck?

Being Ohioans, we never, EVER see anything like this. Example: There was a tornado siren going off in the spring/early summer. What was the very FIRST thing my family did? Went on the front porch to watch the storm. Now, in hurricane-like winds, what did we do? Go walk around the neighborhood, of course! I have never seen so much of my neighbors as I did on Sunday when we were all outside in the wind. I mean, this is saying something because I NEVER see any of them... Or talk to any them. But yeah.

It knocked out power to almost 300,000 people in my county alone, thankfully we only lost internet and cable [and power for like... a half hour] for two and a half days, because some people STILL don't have their power back. It also cancelled school for two days.

In all honesty, folks, it was quite amazing. I loved it. We even got to watch a hundred year old tree fall over because of the wind.

We never see these things, and now I can say to everyone I know, "I have lived through a hurricane."

-Jeni

New School Year

I started school on the 28th of August. My schedule;

1. AP Environmental Lab

Yes. A lab the VERY first thing in the morning. So far, we haven't done a thing,but the up side to this is that I get to sleep in three days a week and come in normal time the other two. We only have a lab period twice a week which is pretty much amazing.

2. AP US History

I had this teacher last year, only in an Honors course instead of an AP one. He's awesome. As much work as it's going to be, I love this class already. There is no REASON for me to like him. He's pretty much the same day after day... Lecture, reading, in class essay, fill out a chart, start over again. The monotony usually drives me mad. I'm way too... "in motion" for classes like this, in general. But this man's dry sense of humor and the fact that he seems to have an unending stream of knowledge makes me love this class and this teacher again this year... Except for the 50 ID cards I have due by sometime within the next two weeks.

3. AP Environmental Science

This is the class/lecture part of my AP science course. The teacher is fun-he tells stories [though too many, at times], he gives you enough time to finish the work, he realizes when things aren't going to get done. My older sister had him when she was a junior. Only thing, he isn't really teaching this class as an AP class, which means no AP credits for Jeni when the time comes to take the AP test. Oh well, so far, so good with class work, anyway.

4. AP Brit Lit

My summer reading project was sixteen pages long... It only HAD to be a page for each essay, and there were six, hence my paper could have been six pages. But me? Keep it short? Never. We finished Beowulf already and wrote a paper and took a test. I adore this teacher. She's so much fun. Made Beowulf interesting by making the class read aloud in British accents. Next up: Orthello.

5. Lunch

I have two groups of friends at lunch, neither of which know or hang out with each other. I switch back and forth.

6. Media Productions

I have this class with Gabby, and it's all right so far. It's a newer, revamped version of Radio and TV, but that also means that it's no longer a blowoff. We already have our groups for the first project, which is pretty much a tester with the cameras, and now that my group got changed, I'm very happy with how I have. Mark is good at doing the camera things, and Adam, Gabby, and I can act. It'll go over pretty well, I'd bet.

7. Algebra 2

The bane of my existence. I have the same lady I had last year, and even then, I couldn't take her. Today, I passed the period by doodling and such and not paying attention at all. It's not like she's going to teach me anything this year. Look how well geometry with her went.

8. Journalism II

Perfect way to end the day. Our school paper. I love the class. We haven't done too much for the first edition yet, but we're starting Tuesday or Wednesday. I'm excited.


Did I forget to mention that five of these classes are with Allie, who is my best friend? That's also exciting. So far, I'm really pretty excited for this year. With theatre, the paper, Be the Change club, recycling club [which I am a part of only out of obligation and love of a friend who started it], and Horizons [our school's literary magazine] this year should be busy and fun.

The problem?

Things at home are a bit...out of whack. Money wise. I hate money.

Just have to take one day at a time, I suppose. Sometimes it sucks not being able to know what's going to happen, doesn't it?

On a happier note, at my last show with Twende, we got our first ever blue ribbon! EVER. That is HUGE. I was so proud of him. He went from being a bucking race horse to my little-er, large hunter-jumper.

The weather here has been so muggy. Well, it was sunny for two or three days, and now it's raining a lot again. Typical Ohio weather for you.

Anyway, it's almost midnight, and I'm bushed.


Jeni

Mehhh

Summer is coming to a rapid close, and I have yet to finish my summer reading projects for my AP Brit Lit class... Just two books and six papers left... Yeah.

We go to pick up our schedules tomorrow morning, and to be honest, I'm not that excited. For me, the school year is just a long, drawn out period of time that either flies by or drags its feet the whole way. I'm just not the biggest fan. I have a car now, which means that Allie and I will no longer have to take the bus, which is something that will put a smile on my face, and we have to lug my brother and his friend along, too... They'll be freshmen.

But anyway, aside from that, things are good.

Took Twende to the fair, and came away with three fourth places, a sixth, and a third. Not bad. At all. I was VERY happy with him. I was worried for the first day or two, though, thought he was getting sick. He dropped a lot of weight through the week, probably because of all the stress on him and such, but he's picked it back up again, which is good because he didn't have enough to lose to begin with. He isn't skinny, skinny, he's healthy, just in good shape and only about 1000 punds, which for a fully grown thoroughbred isn't that much.

For now, I'm going to go read and watch the Olympics.

night.

Muses

Trapped.

That word seems to sum up a lot of what I feel, at times. It isn't that I'm not busy enough and am stuck in the house, or even that I really feel trapped, not at all. It's just that at times, I look around myself and wonder what I'm doing with my life... Am I making the most of it? Am I living it to its full potential, or am I wasting it away? Can I really DO anything right now, while I'm still stuck in high school? Maybe once I'm out, it will be better, but I'm not so sure. This whole feeling was only intenified as I walked to Allie's this afternoon because there were no cars for me to drive down at that time... I was walking down her neighborhood after I got off the street, and I was just looking around myself and thinking about nothing...but also about something. I look up at the sky, and it seems almost artificial... I look at the trees and they seem painted on a canvas... Why? Why can nothing seem truely real unless clouds are covering the sky like they do for eight months straight, here? It's probably just the mood I get in sometimes.

The thing is, all I want to do with my life is something that school won't help me with. I want to help people, all people, old, young, drug addicts, over active teens. Everyone. I don't want to stay stationary and I certainly don't want to sit in a cubical all day. I want to help, do something to make me feel better about myself, but mostly to help a person see that they are something, as well.

This feeling had only intensified over the years, as I've had trouble and gotten through some of my own issues, and I asked for no help... Nothing. I wanted no one in my business, and I never let them. And then one of my best friends went through issues worse than mine a few years back, and I didn't know until it was over and done, and I should have... I really should have.

Last year Allie and I met a girl who was new to the school. She was different from everyone, and had one friend who was already there when she came. Her friend was completely different from her, someone I still can't believe she hangs around with... Where one is reserved, the other plasters herself everywhere... where one you could trust with anything, the other goes and tells someone as soon as she can.

Allie and I hit it off with this girl right off, and I could tell that she wasn't exactly...happy. She was acting like my other friend did the year before, but I wasn't friends enough to ask if I could do anything to help. She became closer to us, to the point where we're extremely close, today.

one thing I'll nevr forget her telling me is this...

"Jeni, you and Allie have done so much... I actually know what it's like to have a real friend, now, and I feel like coming to school is something to look forward to instead of something to dread."

It was said nonchalantly, like I should already know it, and being the baby I am, I cried, because all we did was be good friends to her. She stopped cutting... stopped hating and blaming herself for things. If we could help her by just being her friends...what else could we do?

I just finished a book today by the title, "Go Ask Alice." It was the diary of a fifteen year old drug addict, and it was one of the best books I have ever read. I read about anything and everything, and man, this was an awesome read. It was sad, a lot of it made me cry-I'm a baby, remember?-and the way it ended, though I knew it was coming, was a blow. If you're looking for a good read, I reccomend it. There is no listed author, but just google it or go to amazon.

A girl around my age died in a wreck he other day... I didn't know her, but a girl I work with did. It shows you how fragil life is, and how you have to live it and do what you can with the time you have left. She went to my church, and you know? It made me feel almost... elated? Like yeah, she would be fine because she was a practicing Catholic, that God would take care of her.

My, I'm feeling rather inspirational tonight.

God bless,
Jeni

That's Right.

License? Have it.
Braces? Off.
Writing? Working on it. I have a few chapters written and little snipits-which is good, because it's as far as I've ever gotten in writing... Also working on something with Allie, but that's just for fun.
Aendraste? Keiran's amazing. And I'm finally working on another character.
Life? is good.
School? Is back in session.
People? Are pretty much all right at present. The only person I cannot tolerate is a girl who sits at our lunch table. Or, I guess I'm really sitting at their lunch table, as I came this semester. But she doesn't like me for some reason that I can't exactly point out.
Twende? Is my lovely horse....who is losing his hair, and it isn't just shedding. It's falling out. Don't ask...long story, but it should start growing in again now.
Work? Is as bad as usual. I don't know what it is about that place and its ability to completelty stress me out and make me nervous. I want to quit and go somewhere else so badly, but I love, love, LOVE the people I work with, and I don't want to leave them. It's the coustomers I can't handle.

So, everything is pretty good, and I hope it stays like that. There's something nagging at me, and I can't quite place it. It feels wrong, but I don't know how to tell what it is and I have no idea what to do about it. Sometimes I feel like I'm anxious or panicky for no real reason at all, and when I try to think about why I'm feeling like I'm so tense, I can't think of why, but I also can't relax.

It feels like something is building up... But I'm so extremely paranoid that that is probably what it is... But I don't know. Nothing to do but take it as it comes, right?

OH, you should check this out. Sometimes I have too much fun with random stuff, and I really, really love this.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/clichehorrorfilm/

Last Weekend

Life has become increasingly busy for me over the past few weeks. The thing is, though, that I have picked up nothing new, and I'm doing nothing more in anything I've done. Explaination? I'm getting more into things, and getting happier with them as I do so. It used to be like almost a daily motion, but now, I actually realize what I'm doing. It's almost like waking up again.

But why has it felt that way for me? Well, winter almost always does this kind of...for lack of a better word, thing to me. Like I have issues doing everyday things, and I dread things even more. But that point has passed for the time being, and I'm extremely happy it's gone.

Last weekend was amazing, just completely so, and it all started on Thursday night, actually. Thursday night after I got home from the barn, I trecked over to Allie's house so I could spend some time with her on her birthday. We watched Across the Universe, and made the general rounds we do at her house. I had given her her present when we got to school that morning-100 sticky, glow-in-the-dark stars and tickets to see Making April in March [!!!]-so we pretty much just hung out there. Then I went home, went to bed,a nd it was time for Friday. Well, Friday at school was pretty uneventfu, but that night we met our friends at the school and saw Shakespeare Abridged ENCORE. On Saturday night, Allie and I met up with some friends at a resteraunt, hung out there for an hour and half, then went to Walgreens-in dresses and heels, no less, in the snow, then went to the school for the dance. There are some pretty...bad pictures of us there, but we had fun, and every single last one of us was sore the next few days. On Sunday, I had to work, but when I got off, Allie and I went to our friend Carrie's birthday party, and we bowled until midnight, then finally went home and crashed. Monday, we had the day off, and all I did was work on a progect for three hours with Allie, and then reward ourselves with a movie for actually working. We got caught in a white out coming home. Not fun.

anyway...rambles...

bye. =]

Opinions

Opinions... the grace of God, as I'm sure many people see it. We have the freedom to have one, be it in politics, color, or even religion... We can express those opinions in any way we wish, so long as it does not hurt an individual, or cause a panic, or it seems, if it goes against the general consensus.

I may come off as extremely quiet, but I am so very stubborn and have exceedingly strong opinions. When someone gets me mad or upset, I usually go with these opinions, and in general, people respect what I have to say. There are always those that will disagree, usually, acutally, but they almost always hear you out. Well, I have found evidence that it doesn't matter what my opinion is in one place, because they will shoot me down and gang up on me no matter what I say.

It isn't in an outside world thing I'm speaking of, but on a forum that I found, and a place where I thought it was time to throw in an opinion that differed from everyone else's, and also, because their posts were upsetting me BECAUSE they were just letting things roll off their tongues, putting no thought at all behind them.

All I said was that I don't care who you are, respect is a must to a person in autority, I don't CARE how much you hate them. If you want to disrespect them, do it in a way that isn't completely idiotic, please, and don't sit there complaining about how BAD it is and do NOTHING. I don't sympathize with those people.

GET UP and DO something. And if you can't, then my apologies, but when you CAN, then take a stand.

Oh, and when you're responding to someone who made a rather POLITE comment, don't comment back to me, cursing at me and throwing insults, because I don't care how you say it, and it only makes it look ignortant.

In the World of Test Takers

While the last few weeks have been much less than exciting and extremely heart-wrenching, I actually find myself in better spirits than I would have ever though at this point in the game. There isn't much I can do about a lot of the things that have happened lately, and I'm not about to try and change them, because it will only succeed in putting me in one of those awesomely bad moods.

This week I have exams, actually, I'm done with five of them, and I only have two left, but of course, those are the ones that I will not do so well on. On Tuesday, I had my theatre exam first, and geeze, that was not a good way to start out the week. I had to do a project that was due last Thursday, but I was gone all week [except Friday] and got an extension, so I had to present it in the exam period, and then BS my way through an entire semester of theatre history. I'm thinking I didn't do too well on the quiz part. Next was English, which was, surprisingly enough with my teacher, exceedingly easy. Then geometry... oh, geeze, geometry. The bane of my existence, the one subject in which I never cease to say, "Huh?" on a daily basis... and the test was far easier than I EVER expected it to be.

Imagine that.

When we got home after school, Allie and I hung around for an hour then went to crew for Beauty and the Beast, which was pretty much amazing, even if the set IS purple. Last time we went, we were building a cottage, and it fell on me...this time, we were putting up a door, and it fell on me. Good thing I signed that waver, I guess.

Today, I had my journalism exam, which was better than I thought it would be, really. Then, History. I swear, I thought he was going to bite our heads off when Allie and I asked him to sign out Challenge Day things...geeze, man, get a sense of humor, please. And then we were done at 11:10! Ole!

Tomorrow, I have biology and Spanish...both of which I would never reccomend to anyone.

I'm off to study, good bye, all.