What's YOUR Team???

I know what you're thinking. I can read minds.

YOU: "Oh no..."
ME: "Ohh yeahh babyy..."
YOU: "Please don't tell me you're team Jacob."
ME: "I'm not."
YOU: "So you're team Edward?"
ME: "Nope."
YOU: "What team are you???!!!"
ME: "I'm Team Zimmer/Gregson-Willliams!"
YOU: "They're not in Twilight..."
ME: "I'm not talking Twilight... I'm talking score!"

I hope that resolved everything. One: I don't watch/read Twilight. Two: I think there's only one point there.

Right now I am listening to one of my absolute favorite scores, "Battle At Aslan's How" by Harry Gregson-Williams. (You can hear that song, plus two other songs by Williams, two songs by Trevor Rabin, and "Time" by Hans Zimmer if you click here.) But that's not what this is about. This is about TAKE THAT, "SOCIAL NETWORK!"

Okay, so, if you're not in on the latest Score drama, you need to read this.
First, if you're REALLY not updated about what's going on in the world of Score and you don't even know what it is, let me clarify this: It is not fiction. It is a genre of music, usually (as far as I know) meaning it is a part of a soundtrack for a movie and it's instrumental with the exception of acappella. So, the latest drama going on is that Trent Reznor got an Oscar (I know... aren't those for movies? Then again, scores are a part of movies, so...) for his work on "The Social Network" and it beat out my ole man Hans. I mean, seriously. "The Social Network" ain't got nothing on this:

You gotta love "Time"... I love it so much that my last chapter of "Unspoken" is about Grace, and if you read the book you'll find out who she is, and I named the chapter "Time" because, well, she's kinda explaining that time has healed her of so many things while also taking breaks in between mentioning how she's playing piano in her school's orchestra at the time. And you wouldn't know it unless you were Team Zimmer or read this post, but the song she is playing is "Time".

And what other musician sounds better live than recorded? That's a first! (Psst--- that's Hans on the piano!)

Take THAT, Team Reznor! You may love that guy of yours so much, but would you dedicate an entire chapter of your BOOK to him? Would you put him in your acknowledgements (I don't think Zimmer will be in there, but there's a chance)? And, would you put your funeral in the hands of Zimmer by having "Time" played there hopefully a good seventy years from now? Nope. You're just too Facebook-obsessed to realize there's better music out there. So get off the computer and get on your iPod. Get off Facebook and get on iTunes. You can still be forgiven of your misdemeanor. You can give my buddy an Oscar... next time he makes a masterpiece like this.

And listen to my other buddy while you're at it. This beautiful song deserves more than a place in a movie. It deserves more than having the privilege of being the first song I ever learned musically, and it was on piano FYI. And it deserves more than being my second favorite score.

Don't the violins and cello and horn make you wanna cry???? I swear I have asthma when I listen to this song. I can't breathe.

Take THAT, Team Facebook! You don't even deserve the right to be called Team Reznor. All due respect. But y'all got nothing on this. I'm barely breathing, it's that good. I. CAN'T. BREATHE.

Call...
         The....
P
 a
R
   a
M
   e
D
  i
C
   s...

Dead to This World

Open my eyes.
Let me see the brokenness inside
The hearts of them,
The seven billion
That I never cared to reveal the love I've found to.
Too many times I've said "I believed" in the past tense
And didn't take the step to turn it into present.
I couldn't see what I was doing, I was blind to You.

Shut out the distractions.
Let me find what I'm missing inside
The empty soul,
The quiet ghost
That I left asleep in a dark room.
Too many times I've put You on a shelf and said "Maybe later"
When God, I know I need You now.
I couldn't hear Your callings, I was deaf to You.

Turn off my fears.
Make me fearless and give me the desire
To know what love is
To never break apart from You.
I don't wanna be the one to turn away but wow I came awful close
And who knows where I'd be if time closed on me.
I was too careful, I was dead to You.

I'm done.
I'm done with cookie-cutter Christian talk.
I'm done with not reading the signs.
I'm done with putting my beliefs on bookshelves
Like homework I don't care to do.
I'm done denying the truth.
No more hiding from the truth.
Because the truth is who You are and You are the truth,
Be my northern star and help my life reflect You.
Because I see You, You're my desire
And I am dead to this world,
Alive in what is higher.

Why? Because IT'S FRIDAY!

OMIGAHITSFRIDAY!!!!

Friday means shopping that I won't do. Friday means Radiohead and Deas Vail and Paramore and Coldplay.

Well, just a couple minutes ago I was singing "Friday" from the top of my lungs in my room. And I live in a one-level house. And all fifteen or so people could hear me. This I know because they exploded in laughter after I finished the last chorus. And I ended the song right before 12:01 a.m.... Perfect timing, Hope:)

I just posted this to record this glorious day.

OMIGAH it's HOPE!

Thanksgiving time means....

More stuff.
More blogging.
More writing (and finishing up the last chapter and epilogue of "Unspoken"--- yay!).
More food.
More music.
More time with me and my dog (I am petting her with my left hand and typing with my right at this moment).
MY FAMILY IS COMING TO MY HOUSE!!!! FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!!

About the stuff...
So, for my birthday, I got the entire "Dark Kiss" collection from B&BW, plus a shimmer mist that I'm wearing right now. I also got a beginner's guitar book, and I'm not a beginner so I know most of the stuff in the book, but it shows how to read music and I don't wanna learn that but it will be handy when I start playing cello. I got some guitar picks... not as thin as my lucky guitar pick so I can't holepunch them (bummer), but they'll be handy, too. I got some body sprays that smell REALLY GOOD and I'm putting them in my cubby at school--- one for when I first get off the bus, one for after lunch, one for after P.E. My favorite gift was a pair of headphones--- I NEEDED THEM! They're Sony headphones, and it took awhile to get used to the different kind of sound, but they're worth it alright. Earbuds never worked for me... one bud always popped out or something crazy like that, and even though they're more convenient, I'm a music geek that cares about the sound more than anything, so headphones are the thing for me. (note: listen to "Time" by Hans Zimmer with headphones instead of earbuds and it's magical!)

About Unspoken...
I'm working on the last two chapters in the rough draft. The book is moving by quarters. It's supposed to move by school quarters, but I'm really behind because my school's first quarter ended waaay at the beginning of this month, so I need to pick up the pace. Then, for quarter 2, I am taking out a few chapters and typing it up. For Quarter 3 I will have some friends and maybe some teachers proofread it and then I will revise it. For Quarter 4, I will start getting ready to publish and getting in touch with Morris Self-Publishing. And in the summertime, the book will be set to release. Then I will begin work on "The Interstate," and start the process all over for freshman year. My sophomore project will be "On Death's Edge." Then, I'll probably take a break to focus on my junior and senior years of high school and work on my music career. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

FOOD!
I love food soooo much! In fact, I will be posting a recipe on here really soon! Possibly today! And I just noticed today is Thanksgiving, so have a happy one. I'm thankful for Church's Chicken. And no, I didn't get to eat it Tuesday. And I was really looking forward to it.

More music!
I've been looking everywhere possible for tracks for all my Fine Arts Festival stuff. Right now, I'm working on my Spanish vocal solo, "How Great Thou Art", Carrie Underwood's version. It's actually really easy--- It is the first song I've ever done in high key, but despite that the Spanish lyrics are quite simple to memorize. I am also looking for songs for my ASL solo, and am currently torn between "Desire" by Deas Vail and "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" by Relient K.

For my normal vocal solo, I am trying something else new. It's not in Spanish, and it's not in high key. BUT! For the first time ever, I am doing the music--- myself! I'm playing guitar along with my vocals! The song is "Something Beautiful" by NEEDTOBREATHE. This is gonna be interesting. It's pushing my range a lot, like on one part I have to go really low, and I'm not gonna take the easy way out and sing it the normal way--- I want people to hear how low my vocal range really is! I don't want people to hear the same baby that sang at Fun Arts in sixth grade. I don't want people to hear the same little kid that sang a song in low key and had to stop and catch her breath in the middle of a verse in seventh grade at the Fine Arts District Festival. I don't want people to hear the girl who had to sing soprano notes in "Excuses" every time the lead vocalist wasn't there before Nationals. I want them to hear the message the song has.

Also, if you want, go check out "Take My Hand" by The Cab. I had it on replay for around three hours last night and am still not tired of it! And check out "Go to the River" by Yael Naim. She's an indie folk artist, but trust me, you've heard a song or two by her (like this one that was on a lot of Apple commercials: "I'm a new soul...").

And, I'm working on a cover of "Lovers in Japan" by Coldplay. I've got the guitar chords down, all except for G. I don't think I'll post it on YouTube, but maybe. Besides, I don't wanna be one of those annoying commenters that say "I don't think anyone will see this but someone will see this..."

Good news!
My family is coming to my house this Thanksgiving! Yay! I can't wait for them to see my guitar and ferret calendar (don't ask...) and string bass/cello and autographed Deas Vail poster and random church pew... yeah. Excited.

So... see ya later.

*~~~ImagineThat~~~*
Hope!

Finally Thirteen!

Okay, I don't know about you, but it feels like I've been twelve forever. I mean, yeah, I act like it. But I think the reason it feels like I've been twelve forever is because twice a week someone always says "Holy cow you are not twelve." And guys, when a security guard says that to you at an airport, it's creepy. Well now, my age is just slightly more believable. I'm still still the youngest in my half of the eighth grade at my school, but it's not obvious anymore.

I used to be excited about this day, like in my post "Lucky Thirteen" that I wrote when I was eleven. Which is amazing. I have spent three birthdays on this blog. Time flies. It's amazing what was hidden in that post. It gave me so many clues as to what would happen in my future and I didn't even know it. Like, I mentioned places I was getting readers from and Phoenix, Arizona was listed. Little did I know I was competing there exactly one year later (I mean EXACTLY--- right down to the day). I brought up the fact that "I might take Chinese next year". I'm not taking it right now, but I was referring to the school that I am now at. Eighth graders don't take Chinese this year, but they will next year which won't make a difference for me because I'll be a freshman by then. One way or another I'm taking Chinese. But wow--- freshman year is that close? It's hard to believe you guys have had access to my life since I was ten years old! Hot diggity! All those spelling errors from 2009 haunt me to this day... and then I see how I write now... just wow. And something even weirder? This blog is older than the school I go to. This website has been around since the 2008-2009 schoolyear, when my school started in the 2009-2010 schoolyear. I'm a newbie, but I've got my high school buddies who have been here awhile, thanks to my sophomore sis. Then, I wished the "Fine Arts participants in Detroit" good luck. Little did I know someone would be wishing me luck for the same thing 363 days later!

Yeah. I highly doubt you read the above paragraph but thanks if you did! That's just me babbling again! My parents should have named me Gabby.

Well, today started out as not fun for certain reasons. Then I got on the bus. By the time my bus reached the corner of the street, which was literally thirty seconds later, it just broke down. So we were sitting there for like, thirty minutes and I got my iPod taken away, so... not the funnest birthday, LoL (and yes, I didn't take it out of context, I'm laughing in my mind). But I was bored and just sitting there. However, the kids that were already on the bus became a little family in the time the bus broke down! We're like a little family... gosh, I wish I was serious.

Then, we got the shuttle which is at a local elementary school. We got there and I got on my bus that takes me to my school. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" a lot of kids yelled. Aside from being creeped out that they knew it was my birthday, it made me a little happier.

Then, we were on the road and me and my friends were talking about random things. Then, Dena (From Dena's World on the blog list) was on the phone and we thought she was talking to her mom or something. Then we heard her say something about "Hope from the Dayton Regional *hum* School" and then when she hung up she told us she called the radio station. That we were listening to right at the moment. Luckily, they didn't call my name.... OH NO I HAVE TO HEAR THE BIRTHDAY SONG IN YOUTH TONIGHT! And I am not officially thirteen yet... I will be at 8:35 p.m.

Lunch was great. I got to eat in my Language Arts classroom! Yay! And I'm not being sarcastic--- I like eating in there. No, I didn't have detention... that's one reason why I like it.

I was hoping I could eat Church's Chicken today but I don't think it'll work. So much for the love of fried chicken, eh?

P.S. Yesterday was Megan and Liz's birthday, so... happy birthday to ya. And tomorrow will be my friend Maya's birthday, but only my church friends and two school friends know her, so y'all wish her a happy one.
P.P.S. GUYS!!!!!!!!!!! EEK!!!!!!!!!! I reached my goal of 13,000 pageviews by my thirteenth birthday! It's all because of you! You should have seen the smile on my face when I saw I almost am at 14,000! Without you, I'd be stuck in a rut, no kidding. You guys have been the world to me since I was ten... don't ever forget it. I love you. This is the perfect ending to my day.

Come Home!

Come Home

I'm flying far away to be really free.
Tried hard to build myself independently.
It's hard to always do what you expect from me,
Saying:
Come home.
Oh,
Come home.
No, just
Come home.
No,
Come home.

I try to understand why it hurts you
To see a difference in our points of view.
Don't blame me for a thing that I didn't do.
Say:
Come home.
Oh,
Come home.
No, sayin'
Come home.
No,
Come home.

It's insane how feeling so much shame
Will only bring you pain
And I no longer know how to explain.
See,
I'm happy as can be
And you're my family,
My ground,
And I'm just hoping one day I will find...
You...

Oh, you're holding back the tears when you kiss me.
Smile smile when I'm back again as you see me.
When years are passing by and you miss me
You're saying:
Come home.
No, just
Come home.
That you
Come home...
No...
Come home.

Such a shame, you're feeling so much blame
And yet I'm still the same
And I no longer know how to explain.
See,
I'm grateful as can be
'Cause you're my family,
I'm bound,
And I'm just hoping one day you will shine...
Through...

Let's try to look at each other,
Find one another,
Asking
"How can it be?"
Fighting, losing each other
Thinking the other
Is not so much like me.
Finding out all that we see is just not always what is real
But you come home.
Oh,
Come home.
Just come home.
No...
Come home.
Come home.
No,
Come home.
Come home.
No...
Come home.
Come home.
No, just
Come home.
That you
Come home.
Oh...
Come home.
(repeat)

My turn to understand what you live through.
Today I only feel how I miss you.
So it's only fair when it's hard to bear and you ask if I...
(come home) I try...
(come home) I try...
To come home.
Oh, come home.

We Are Hungry...

No, I am not talking about that one worship song ("We are hungry, we are hungry, we are hungry for more of You. We are thirsty, oh Jesus..."). I'm really talking about food. I love food so much I asked for it for Christmas... help me.

Ever been so hungry, it was your last class period before lunch, and your stomach kept reminding you? That was me in STEM Foundations today. We didn't have advisory, so we were in class ten minutes longer. And guys, don't get me wrong, I love that class, but it drags on and on and on and on ("On and On" by Chasen = totally describes that class), maybe because it's my third period class which is normally right before lunch, unless I have Debate Team, then that makes thirty more minutes before lunch on Wednesdays.

So, I'm listening to some lecture on filmography, and this conversation started:

STOMACH: Me hungry. (plus: disgusting growl)
HOPE: Shh.
STOMACH: Me hungry... (growling again)
HOPE: Be quiet.
STOMACH: Hope, I'm hungry. (louder growl)
HOPE: Just wait five minutes until lunch...
STOMACH: Hope, you said "five minutes" five minutes ago... (bigger, louder growl)
HOPE: Aw dude, I hope no one in front of me hears this...
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE (my very short friend): *Giggles*
HOPE: Brianna (Strawberry's real name), you didn't hear my stomach, did you?
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE: *Hysterically laughing while nodding head, hoping no teachers will walk by, trying to be as quiet as what is possible*
HOPE: Come on clock, can you move any slower?
STOMACH: Me hungry!!! (LOOOOUUUD growl)
HOPE: Okay, seriously, stop it now.
STOMACH: FEED ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (loudest growl that went on for like, ten seconds)
HOPE: SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah.... that was embarrassing. So like, I brought it up in sixth period today and me and Strawberry Shortcake were laughing and were like, "Me hungry! Feed me!" Not only was the growling embarrassing, but you didn't hear it... it sounded like I had freakin' diarrhea for Pete's sake! I didn't have diarrhea, but still... sounds are deceiving--- especially when they last for ten seconds! I mean, guys, it was nasty sounding. Living grodyness.

So, ladies, here's a tip: If you're hungry, don't sit behind your crush. I wasn't sitting behind a guy I like because I don't like any right now, but he is a friend of mine (Mister Crow) and already has weird suspicions about my odd stomach noises because one day in sixth period, I didn't eat a lot that day unless you count loads of ketchup on a chicken sandwich. Maybe that's a normal amount of food, but I'm one of those girls that has to sneak a snack into every class period... except for science. So, I had a headache and had my hand covering one eye, plus I started falling asleep for the second time that day. Then, my stomach was like, "Me hungry! You haven't fed me all day, you moron!" And he turned around. He kinda stared awkwardly for a moment as if he was hoping that noise wasn't me. And I was sitting there, hoping no one else heard that noise. Guys, I have one mean stomach that knows how to embarrass me. "Hope, are you feeling okay?" He asked. Second person to do that all day. The first time though... it was something different... I fell asleep in STEM Foundations.

If you hear a loud, thunder-like noise anywhere, it's probably my stomach...

This is Goodbye

"Goodbye,"
I said to you.
Those painful words making me cry
As I watched you fade away.
I wanted to love you
I wanted you to know
That no matter what
I'd still love you so
Forever.
So this is goodbye, I guess
And I shall run away from you
Like a handkerchief waving goodbye.

My Autumn Playlist

I didn't have time to post the recipe I invented, so here's what's playing on my iPod this season!

1. "Paradise" by Coldplay. Me and my friends were jamming to it at lunch when unexpectedly, while dancing, I accidentally shook my iPod and it shuffled. I screamed "NOOO!" and they said I looked like the Devil, no less the Baby of Shame.
2. "Christmastime is Here" by Vince Guaraldi Trio. This is the instrumental that Coldplay is attempting to play at the end of "Charlie Brown" and they failed that part epically.
3. "Charlie Brown" by Coldplay. Despite the failed attempt to play the above song, this song rocks! I love the "light a fire..." part!
4. "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall" by Coldplay. Love the lyrics.
5. "Major Minus" by Coldplay. I love the acoustic guitar, vocals, bass, guitar lead... Not sure what I like.
6. "Be My Escape" by Relient K.
7. "Desire" by Deas Vail. While waiting for the bus one day, I had just received the album and just as Laura started saying, "mm..." the bus pulled around the corner! I knew it would be a good day!
8. "Excuses" by Deas Vail. Forget the six month band thing. I hate this song, but at the same time I have to love it. Gosh, I miss band practices... Gosh, take me back to Phoenix already.
9. "For Those Who Wait" by Fireflight. Beautiful...
10. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by Rascal Flatts. I like Christmas music--- don't be a hater!
11. "Make Your Move" by Third Day.
12. "Time" by Hans Zimmer. You know why this blasts on my iPod. I'm joining my school band if and when we get one, and this song is why I might do cello! However, I really wanna play the saxophone, so I Don't know...
13. "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" by Relient K. 'I watched the perverbial sunrise coming up over the pacific end. You might think I'm losing my mind but I will shy away from the specifics.'
14. "The One I'm Waiting For" by Relient K. I love the 80s vibe it gives off!
15. "Common Sense" by Deas Vail. Only song that can make me sad and happy at the same time.
16. "Strawberry Swing" by Coldplay.
17. "Lovers in Japan" by Coldplay.
18. "Run Away" by Megan and Liz. It totally describes how I've been feeling in this beautiful season of autumn.

"We live in the shadow of the fall..."
-Selah, 'Unredeemed'.

Voiceover

Smile, hide your pain.
Laugh, hide your tears.
Walk, you're too strong to crawl.
Courageous, until you break.
                  This is how we live, this is how we strive
                  In this stupid world, who even wants to try?
                  Try to go on when there's nowhere to be,
                  Try to find a place when all you find is Hide-and-Seek.
                  All hide, no seek.
Put on a brave face, don't let 'em see your weakness.
Put your real self on a shelf and forget the gift you have...
                    Just a moment.
Release the pain in the flames of your heart.
Let the water flow out your oceanic eyes,
Let the signs of weakness pour out in the stream.
It's okay to cry, but we need to try,
Here I know I belong, though there's nowhere to be,
Hide-and-Seek, maybe I've found seek.
                        I can't do it alone, this I know,
                        I'm taking the love I can give...
              Give...
               It...
            Just...
                     One...
                  Moment...