Pages

Apr 27, 2012

Tour

TOWER OF TERROR
Coming back from Disneyland to Happy Valley has seriously been a slap to the face.  After frolicking around in California for five days on choir tour, returning to reality (school, homework, chores etc.) has been extremely difficult.  The schedule was jam-packed with activities to keep us happy and out of trouble (says choir teacher Mama J), such as running around Universal Studios for six hours with small amounts of supervision (basically none), going to Disneyland / California Adventure from the time it opens to it closes, and of course (how could I even forget?) riding on the bus for 14 hours.

I think I could have gone insane on that bus *twitch*.

14 hours filled with 56 people jammed on a bus of screaming, giggling, and snoring people is not something I would ever like to repeat.

(There were about four buses?  So roughly about 200 kids on choir tour.)

ESPECIALLY when they are shouting songs on the radio at the top of their lungs.

The air conditioning on the bus wasn't the best, so the nights were horribly hot and stuffy.
 
ESPECIALLY when the person you're sitting next to refuses to take off their sweatshirt and their massive quilt while you are in a short-sleeved t-shirt and shorts, causing their body heat to swirl around and stick to you like nobody's business.  That gets really uncomfortable.  But, I'm not saying I'm speaking from experience or anything.  I could just be making this up.

It was incredible.  I ran around with my friends in the Happiest Place on Earth, part of the Happiest Choir on Earth.  (It says so on our t-shirts).  Me, being originally from California, returning to my hometown was like a breath of fresh air.  Seeing the palm trees, the tiled roofs of houses, and smelling the beach was like stepping into heaven.

I'd forgotten about how many palm trees there are in California.  It was amazing.  The landscape was familiar, the weather was familiar.  Heck, even the freeways were familiar.  Just seeing those small blue signs with CALL BOX on it in all caps and the small yellow phone attached to the pole was incredible.  I never thought I would see one again.

The overcast days?  I could worship them.  The smell of salt in the air?  Could live off of it.  Hearing the waves on the beach and feeling the sand between my toes?  Don't even get me started.

And then there was Disneyland.  When I was little, my family had season passes for Disneyland.  I would get checked out of school so my family could spend the day at Disneyland.  Walking down those asphalt streets and seeing the small shops on Main Street, USA was...I don't even know how to describe it.  Riding the rides, and visiting the small ice cream shops that I had gone to when I was a little kid.  Amazing.

IT WAS ALL JUST AMAZING. AAAHHHH.

Also, another little quirk to choir tour is something known as CTRs.  I'm not speaking of 'Choose the Right'.  I'm talking about 'Choir Tour Romance'.

You see, when you are running around California for five days with boys (or girls--depending on what gender you are), emotions are running high.  They are at their peak.  There's no stopping them.  Did I mention that there really isn't that much overbearing supervision on this trip? (that sounds really bad, but they just think we're semi-responsible enough to take care of ourselves)

Basically they are the greatest thing ever, and they hardly ever last.  Just for five days.  Woo.  (if you're lucky)

I may or may not be speaking from experience.  I could just be making this up.

To sum up choir tour in a nutshell, it was a jam-packed, thrill-riding, sun-soaking, love-finding, tiring, exhausting, inner-clock-whacking, fun, insane, incredible, nostalgic, reminiscent ball of fun.

Maybe I would take that bus ride again.

Scratch that.  I would definitely take that bus ride again.

Apr 17, 2012

Kidding

Okay, I gave up on the grammar thing.  If you want to see some good (and hilarious) posts about grammar, just head on over to the Oatmeal, a wonderful website with original pictures!

(WARNING: People who go to the website put themselves at risk of swearing and profanity)

I hope all y'all had a great spring break.  I did absolutely nothing.

Nothing.

I stayed at home, reread the Percy Jackson series (and the Lost Hero and Son of Neptune) in about two / three days, acted like a vegetable in front of the computer and television, and played Temple Run.  A lot.

Ah...Temple Run.

Typical thoughts running through my head while playing the game:

Okay, run run run.  Jump.  Slide.  Left left left.  Ah!  Right or left?!  RIGHT.  Oh, okay, phew.  Hey, I wonder what time it is...AH! That was close.  I almost got decapitated!  I--wait, why is my phone jumpy?  It won't register!  The game is jumpy!  I'm going to DIE...AH--dang, I fell.
...
AGAIN!

It hasn't become a full blown obsession yet, thank goodness.  In my church class the other day, we had a Temple Run competition to see who could stay alive the longest.  (I did not participate, however, because it hadn't come out for Android yet)  One girl in my class lasted, I swear, for about ten minutes.  My teacher instantly regretted setting up the competition.

Honestly, I'm not even that good.  Haven't even cracked a million.

WHAT?!  Lizzy, you failure!  My high score is 136,574,924!  Beat that!
Okay, dude.  Let's get real.  This guy is never going to leave the temple.  Ever.  It's an endless labyrinth of fire and gaps.  And the guy never learns his lesson.  He keeps taking the freaking idol! What an idiot...

What is it that makes this game so enticing?  The thrill of adventure?  The near death experiences?  The 90 degree hairpin turns that keep you on the edge of your seat?  A rerun of Indiana Jones? (minus that fact that Indiana here actually makes it out alive) 
Thumb exercises?

I've noticed that I'm acting very hypocritical here.  I talk about playing it a ton during Spring Break, and then several sentences down I'm complaining about how stupid it is.

I don't really have an explanation for it.  All I know is that when I'm leaving for choir tour, my battery is going to be on the down low from the playing of the Temple Run.

Again, it's not an obsession. Yet.