PROM PICTURES ARE IN!!! YAY!!!

Our school had prom last Friday, and I just now got the pictures developed. Always the latecomer, I am. ;D I will upload some later (I need to get them scanned) ... Prom was lots of fun, although the prom was held "in a box," as someone kindly said (well, most rooms are "boxes" anyway) :) I had a good date, Mr. Prakash over here (doubt you'd read this, but once again, thanks lots! Haha, a new Dani phrase?) ... thank youuuuu!

Okay, this week was crazy crazy. I've been memorizing like none other for the past three days. Now, one more leap to make - I have 5 tests tomorrow. *grins* Studious Dani. Actually, I've been losing it lately. I've been having mean temper streaks and complaining to the world, "Why me?" Not like I have it that hard, right? =
I looooove Robin Hood: the soundtrack (old movie? still good, though... NOT the Men in Tights version). It's currently stuck in my head.

Three more concerts I have to play in from now until May 10!! o_O For those who don't know, I play flute/piccolo.

*sigh*

Finally, a new layout. I don't know if the colors match. I was never known for my sense of style. :)

I had this layout a long time ago, but I never used it. Probably because it was hard to match up the colors. Duurrr... well, at least it is a new layout for those who are interested. :)

Yesterday, I went to a carwash, washed some cars, ate with some friends at Chili's. I hung out with my "gal pals," Chinatown (a group of four, myself included, Chinese girls) in the Target shopping area. Whoohoo, so much stuff to buy, so little money... :) I need to get a job. I'm waiting for my paycheck from the Masters, though... $500 to spend!

I've been stressed out way too much lately. I think I do put it on myself. :( Well, technically, there is so much stuff to do, and I want to be prepared for anything and everything. Is that too much to ask?

I exercised today. There's this one kickboxing/squat move I'm fond of. I wish I had more time to exercise because that's the only reason why I don't weigh 29348739 pounds right now. Thank you, cardio and strength training...

Okay, just realized I shouldn't be sitting here. Should be hitting the books once again. D'oh. :) Love you all.

Ok, I suck.

I've been getting like, no sleep lately. Trying to "diet" but still thinking that I'm on the fat side (the mirror is oh, so cruel) ... hmm, what else. Gone psycho/insane lately, remember kids, sleep is very, very important! Otherwise, you'll start rambling like me :) ...

One more hurdle, Dani ... one more (well, more like 40 more)

I have a new layout, but I need to code it and coordinate the colors, so it'll be awhile (yeah, I know, I suck, I'm sorry). :)

Happy Easter Sunday :) Unfortunately, it's stormy over here. I've been picking up my Scriptures readings lately. There's so much that I don't know...

!!!! I still can't figure out how to install wordpress.

Am I supposed to upload the files in a specific manner? ASCII, binary, etc. I'm using WS FTP. I've uploaded all the files, and it keeps on telling me that my info for wp-config.php is wrong, yet I typed in everything Kathie gave me... any suggestions?

I will... make a new layout this Friday (hopefully! Someone needs to kick me) since spring break starts next week and I won't have time to be at the computer because I'm working (that's right, I live in the golf capital of the world) ... :)

Much love to everyone, but especially a special someone. :)

The weather is fantabulous.

And I think I just coined my own term. *grins* Oh wait, just kidding, it's an actual word :) LOL ... anyway, darn. Yeah, spring has officially arrived, methinks, and the sun is out! I hope to see green and sky blue everywhere now. I am blessed that I do not suffer from allergies, so I can romp around in the grass :) But ... seriously, if there's a nice day out, do try to enjoy the brightness and sunshine!

I love my friends. Omg. I have been so neglectful of everyone lately. I am the worst friend in the world ... living in my own world, entrenched in my books (is that the right word? or am I guilty of a malapropism again?) ... I caught up with a couple of people, and I realized how long we haven't exchanged words ... bad, bad, bad, Dani. I even wrote an essay about this awhile ago (keeping friendships/relationships alive) ... d'oh. I need to practice what I preach.

I'm going to take a nap. Falling asleep while practicing flute is not cool. Au revoir.

Okay, well, I got one of the four things done on my "Things to Do" and that's a new cam pic. It's not even a good one (the beginnings of my research paper for AP Lit), but it will do. Hey, it's an update (a much needed one) ... and I really need to get my hands on Photoshop soon. Layout ideas... coming up with a new layout idea is always the hardest part for me, and the design comes second :P kind of ironic, though. Well, both procedures take a long time for me (I'm slow). :D

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY (tomorrow) since I'm not going to be blogging tomorrow, obviously :D Recuerda llevar las prendas verdes (Spanish students, take note at my horrendous grammar?) ... ^_^

I want to be fluent in the "Latin" languages before I die. French, Spanish, Italian, etc. etc. Well, okay that's probably not possible in all 92837489 of them, but perhaps, at least one ... but if I want to be fluent, I really need to be serious in my studies, yes? Aren't polyglots cool? I respect them a lot. It takes a lot of time and dedication in order to get a language down ;P If you want to try a new language, try Mandarin Chinese... -_- It's a never-ending journey.

Listening to: DMB's "Grey Street"
Feeling: Apathetic, but leaning towards grumpy...

I cried during Beauty and the Beast.

Yes, instead of hanging out with friends on a Saturday night, I settled myself in my living room and watched the timeless Disney classic. It's been 10 years since my last viewing of the movie, and well... yeah. It's still a good, good movie. I cried (had tears) when the Beast said he had to let Belle go because he loved her and at the end when he "dies" and Belle starts to cry... wow, I didn't think I still got this emotional at Disney movies, but nothing's changed. ^_^' Gah, I'm such a social loser.

Aaaaand...
1) I need a new layout
2) I need to convert to wordpress XD
3) I need a new cam picture
4) I need to study...

Much love.

You know what? Life sucks.

Well, well. Where's the motivation? Come every Sunday, when all these tests, quizzes, assignments, and projects are around the corner, I never, ever feel like doing anything productive anymore.

That's my problem - everytime I embark on a journey (be it school, flute, learning a new language, whatever), I always become lackadaisical and lose my motivation about 2/3s of the way there, if I'm lucky. I'm a great starter-upper, but a lot of times, I don't finish. Now, I think, WOW, only one and half more year, but I'm already losing steam ... =\ and of course, there's a direct correlation of how much I study/work/practice to how well I turn out. Put in little to no work, and the results are... crap.

Okay, I need to shut up and get back to studying. ^_^

Oh, Adam - if you're Oriental (heck, Asian) ... if you even think of becoming an English professor, forget having your name on the will ... (aka disinherited) :) They just have this mentality that anything but business, law, enginnering, and med. = failure in the eyes of the Oriental society =D well, I sometimes disagree, but ... we'll see.

I visited GA Tech today. :)

Dani an engineer...if not business or a doctor, that's what I'll be. Good, but kind of sad that our choice of careers are limited to those three, if you're an Oriental.

I'll blog more later - just letting you guys know I'm still alive. :)

The Dante's Inferno Test has sent you to the First Level of Hell - Limbo!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	High
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Very High
Level 2 (Lustful)	Very Low
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	Low
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Low
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very Low
Level 7 (Violent)	Low
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Moderate
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Very Low

Take the Dante's Inferno Test

I need to read Dante. I remember one time, I had to buy a copy of it for Mike F... haha Mike, do you remember?

Lately, I've been contemplating a lot about people, relationships, what I want in life, what's important in life, religion, school, growing up, etc. I don't think I've come to a conclusion, and I probably don't expect to have some until I grow older. I mean, I'm only 17, and I'm still "learning" (theoretically) everyday with life's lessons. You know, the times when Life itself smacks in you in the face and leaves you smarting in the face for days :\ I don't really know what it takes for me to be happy. I hope I don't turn out to be some selfish b***** in my growing experience, and I definitely hope I don't turn out to be an Edna Pontellier. Maybe I need to stop dwelling in the past. Some of these doors were left open, and I just can't seem to close them. No matter how hard I try, I often find myself gravitating toward what could have been and not focusing on what is. Dangerous to be living in the past.

Peanut butter is good.

All right, it's about 9:20 pm Saturday night, and what is Dani doing?

Obviously not partying because she's online...writing a blog entry. Great, I need a life, right? :)

These past couple of days have been busy with band. Thursday night - Saturday afternoon, my hours were dedicated to flute. District honor band took place, and stroke of luck (or two), I ended up second chair (again) ... next to Sara N. (which was expected) Anyway, I say it was luck because I was originally 4th, but due to people not being in the band for certain reasons, I got moved up :D (happy) We had UGA's band director as our conductor, whoohoo... what a crazy man.

We played three pieces:

1. Noisy Wheels of Joy by Eric Whitacre (I HATE most contemporary music ... :O they make no sense!!)
2. La Procession Du Rocio (a looong two movement piece) by Joaquin Turina
3. Foshay Tower Washington Memorial March by John Phillip Sousa (I played this at Janfest last year!!)

With the exception of the first piece (who would have thought I could despise a piece so much? IT was so dumb, elementary, and just plain annoying), I liked our music, and I even got to play piccolo on the second piece :D :D :D yay, although I suck at tuning that thing ... so yea, it was an eventful three days, and to make a long story short. I saw all of my old middle school friends (tear tear tear ... I wonder how life would have turned out if I actually went to the same high school as them. That wondering is still there, lurking in the back of my mind, somehow.) and some old adult friends/teachers (my middle school teacher who still remembers his first awesome 8th grade flute section at RMS ;D ahh, don't you miss 8th grade) ... :D

Content.

Oh, I might be on my way to be a model... IF this whole thing isn't a scam (I need to do my research on this). The other day, my mom took my sister and I to this casting call with an evaluation... well, it was free, and hey, I had some time on Tuesday night. I stood in front of a camera for about 30 seconds and said my name, my age, and what I wanted to do after high school. I didn't think this would happen because my sister is a lot more of the model-type than I am, but I heard back from them today via letter, and they want my parents to come back for me next next Sunday ... wow, was I amazed (actually, I was amazed that they didn't ask for my sister - now if you don't know my sister, she's the beauty of the family). I don't know how big the chances of me going to Hollywood (or whatever ... I'm guessing the small things like those commercials on TV) are, but if I did ... I, Dani, the super nerd, model for something (even a 30 second commercial) - now who would have thought. But, this could be a scam (you know how America is), and I think I'd want to finish my education...

Valentine's Day is on Monday. <3

Hey guys and gals,

I'm stressed out at the moment ... just when I thought I could relax, noooo, more work is dumped onto my shoulders, and I can't carry it much longer. I hope I don't die early due to some stress-related disease/cancer.

Thanks for your notes, guys ... LOL, my birthday is December 13 (hence the "wait awhile"), but I appreciate the notes. :) Come back to me in 10 months.

Being in love is a totally new experience worth checking out... but I just wish that I had more time for love.

Happy Chinese New Year (tomorrow) !! Year of the Rooster!! Jing ji bao shi! Wear red.

Whoohoo, Valentine's Day on the Fourteenth. I know this is cliché, but ... how time flies. It's already the second month of the year 2005, and what have I accomplished this January? Not a lot. Oh well. There are 11 months to go ...

Eyeopener: I will ... be ... 18 ... this year ... :O :O :O (but not for a good while). When the time is near, I'll be sure to remind you guys. ;) It's so weird because I'm still thinking that I'm 15, and all of my friends are 16-18 (or so) , but now, I have painfully realized that they're hittin' the early twenties already. :\ Sooner or later, I'll be 20 myself. That year has always seem oceans away, but now, I'm already seeing the shoreline inching up (if that makes sense).

Anyway. Back to Valentine's Day. For the most part, I was apathetic about the special loving holiday, but surprisingly, this year, I actually have a reason to care about this rose-and-chocolate-celebrating holiday.

I'm cold. It's about 40 degrees outside ... and considering how ghetto my house is, it's about 40 degrees in this house, too. XD

Word from dictionary.com: perfunctory \pur-FUNGK-tuh-ree\, adjective: 1. Done merely to carry out a duty; performed mechanically or
routinely. 2. Lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; indifferent.

These past couple of weeks have been yet another bump or two on the road of life. I feel like some mad scientist in an AP Chem. lab threw my little self into a giant centrifuge, shook me around until I was totally discombobulated, and thrown back onto the petri dish. My head still hurts, and I need to gather myself together.

In AP Lit, we are studying Kate Chopin's The Awakening. As much as we (my friend and I) dislike that selfish "whore," Edna Pontellier, I can see why she loves to delve in the dream world. Not living up to life's expectations and not facing the dreariness, often perfunctory actions of everyday life are appealing and fun, but escapes from reality are only temporarily. That's the message I need to tell myself. I need to stop wandering around (both physically and mentally) and get to work. Sorry, Edna.

The other day, I watched Napoleon Dynamite ... the movie only got big after it was released on DVD, did anyone notice that? Well, anyway. I hear mixed reviews about this ... gem of a movie. Hmm. Well, the producers purposely made it so there was no plot, and although in the scope of things, it was hilariously stupid (or stupidly hilarious), but during the actual watching of the movie, the no-plot deal annoyed me. For some reason, I didn't appreciate the movie until after I saw it. Maybe it was because I escaped from the suffocating stupidity of the movie. But that is what makes the movie so loved, right? Hmm. "GOSH!" and "YESSSS!"

Okay, take care. God bless you.

I'm so tired.

Tired, tired, tired.

I went to a math tournament today. I was placed on Varsity team 2 with... another guy and two freshmen (that's right) - poor kids, they must have been frightened! Anyway, considering how "incompetent" we were... I ended up placing 14th (woot, which is not too bad) and my team ended up 5th overall. (Maybe the other people were just as bad, but I don't know. This is varsity...) So yes, that's how my Saturday went. :) Congrats to Peter, the smart Chinese kid who's a whiz at math... :D

Grrr. I'm so fed up with life.

I have developed (or aggravated) my insanely bad habit of logging on every thirty (or five...) minutes or so and checking out my blog, other people's blogs, my Xanga, and/or other people's Xangas. I NEED TO STOP CHECKING UP ON PEOPLE EVERY 5 MINUTES. Those minutes add up... like, as of right now, I should be studying, but no, that's not happening. Am I developing ADD? It's getting harder and harder for me to sit down for extended periods of time and concentrate. That "inner free spirit" is calling out to me. I've been so restless for the past couple of weeks, and I don't know how to ameliorate it.

I want to see you again.

Exercising really does wonders for the soul, body, and mind. :D I just finished jogging and jumping around for thirty minutes. Although I look awful now, with my sweat-soaked hair, I feel ... great! :D I feel stronger already, and it's a relief that I think I burned off most, if not all, of that apple pie (my latest attachment) ... Mmm ... I want one of those machines (to be invented? If there isn't such thing already) that tell you how many calories you put in your mouth and how many calories you burn via walking/breathing/exercising, whatever. :D I haven't truly exercised in awhile, and my body loves to collect fat (it won't let go!!), so I'm trying my best to curb it. Don't get me wrong; I'm not some skinny girl who complains about how fat she is. I just want to look better, feel better, lose some stubborn fat (thighs, anyone?) and be able to fit into my jeans more. :D I have a naturally curvaceous figure, so uh, there's no way I can be a stick ;)

This week has been really slow. I'm not kidding. Usually, I say to myself, "Wow, it's already Friday?" This week? I thought it was Friday two days ago. Yech.

One month until Valentine's Day... *insert heart here* This year, I actually have something to look forward to, eh? More chocolate, hooray.

I miss hanging out with certain friends, certain people. Sometimes, I/we drift apart, but the friendship never really dies ... I wish I was better at this. Friendship should be a class in itself. Hmmm... Guess how many people would fail it?

I'm going to go shower. Love you all.

Okay, I need to be better about updating.

I tried out for All-State on Saturday. Thought everything was going beautifully... until the actual audition, of course. I don't know, do I sound conceited about this? I mean, ever since 7th grade (that's about 5 years ago...) all I've ever wanted to do was make it at least once before I leave high school. Is that so much to ask? Hmm. People say I set my expectations wayyyyy too high and I need to stop beating myself up. Well, how would you like it if you put in hours and hours of practice into whatever you were doing only to mess up at the last second... when after reflecting and giving it much thought, you realize that the outcome really could have been so much different if you had done X instead of Y ... *sigh* Okay, Dani, it's not the end of the world, I know, I know. It just PAINS me so much to see my efforts go down the drain when I know I could have done a lot better.

In other news...ever have someone you really, truly care about but ... unfortunately, you never see him/her regularly? Ahhhh.

This month has been REALLY slow in passing. I could have sworn I was in school for three weeks already, but nooo... it's only been one. I need to be more patient, but somehow, there's this freedom-craving, feral spirit that has been set loose within myself, and I don't know how to tame it. I'm waiting for something (good!!!!) to happen... but what? Ach, I think I'm just sick of school. The same ol', same ol' gets a little, well, old. Or maybe I'm just a spontaneous person.

Off to do some homework. I need to visit some blogs! ... ^_^

I'm still alive... :) Don't worry.

Happy 2005! I hope everyone had a good Christmas break and a happy New Year. I know I did... :) This has been one of the best, if not the best, holidays breaks I've ever had. I want to thank that one special person who made it so.

Sigh, back to school is never a fun time. I'm so overwhelmed once again. Too many lessons, quizzes, and tests! My eyes are always so bleary in the morning - blah.

Take care :)

It's funny how life can change so much in as little as one year. As I say goodbye to 2004 today, all these memories, good and bad, play like a slideshow in the inner crevices of my mind. I've done and said a lot of stupid things, but there are moments when I have shined... always take the time to reflect what you have done this past year (or day, or week, or even hour), and see if you've learned anything. Like me, I'm sure you have.

Happy 2005.

...I have a secret...I've grown so fond of you....