Winter Activities: Droney Style (PB)

Many people, including myself at times, complain endlessly about the cold winter weather.  You have to bundle up in a ridiculous amount of layers to be able to keep yourself at a comfortable temperature.  You have to spray your boots with a water-proofing spray that will keep your feet dry when you are trudging through three feet of snow on your way to school or work.  Winter is miserable at times, but it also has its rewards. 

Winter is truly beautiful in Pennsylvania.  Just take a second to look outside at the rolling hills and the glistening snow laying on top of them like a warm blanket. (that's ironic because snow is cold)  Everything sparkles in the winter, and I love glitter, so that works for me. 

 

In my family, most outdoor winter activities consist of my mom going outside for about five minutes, (if she even lasts that long) and then she complains about being too cold and goes back inside, my dad insisting that he is not cold without gloves on (even though he is), and me getting tangled up in the dog's leash and falling in the snow.  Now, I know that does not seem like fun, but sometimes my mom puts enough layers on, my dad wears gloves, and I leave the dog inside, and we have fun.

This afternoon, for instance, my family went snowshoeing in the backyard and built a snowman.  Last year for Christmas, my mom, dad, and I all got snowshoes for Christmas.  This was the first time we had used them since getting them over a year ago, but it was fun.  We were probably outside for a good forty-five minutes snowshoeing.  We have a big field behind our house, so we went out in the field to try them out after getting used to them in our own backyard.  My dad and I left my mom in the dust.  Let's just say that she's not very fast or made for cold weather.  It was fun, none the less.

After we had finished snowshoeing and had figured out how to remove them from our feet, we built a snowman.  So, in my side yard, we currently have a five to six foot snowman with arms made out of "paint stirrer-sticks," a hook for a nose, and two bottle caps for eyes.  I also used twigs to make cat ears for the snowman.  It's a pretty unique snowman, but I like it. 

So even though my family is not necessarily the most "outdoor-sy" type, we can still have fun playing in the snow.  And for the remainder of this unending winter, we are going to enjoy the beauty and coziness of the season.

District Choir (PB)

Wednesday through Saturday was District Chorus, so I thought I would tell you all about my week. 

On Wednesday, seven of us loaded ourselves into a rickety school van, which is pretty much a box on wheels. The ride was pretty scary in the nasty roads that awaited us about halfway through our drive. Once we finally arrived we made a stop at a local sub shop called The Whole Darn Thing. It was delicious! 

After we had finished our meals, we loaded ourselves back into the van. Now we were on the way to the auditions at Meadville High School. I was so nervous. I honestly thought I was going to vomit. After we warmed up and were given the room we were going to be staying in while we were waiting to audition, we were given our audition number. I was audition number twenty five for the soprano ones... Out of twenty five. I was really nervous all ready, and now I was last to audition. Ugh. 

After my audition, it was running through my head on repeat. What could I have done better? Maybe I should have had better dynamics throughout the audition pieces. The entire rest of the night I was questioning my audition.  I was my own worst enemy.  I was left to go to my host family and get as good of a nights sleep as I could. 

When the host families first started arriving, I had my fingers crossed that I would get a really nice host family with a very clean house. But, of course, when my host family showed up, the woman had pajama pants on, which can only mean two things: she works third shift and just woke up, or she did not live the nicest, cleanest life. Option b was the correct option, unfortunately. Their house was dirty and I found a moldy cheerio on the window sill. That was pretty gross. Long story short, the three Bradford girls that were together decided that we were going to stick it out in our not-so-nice house. 

Day 2: The day that our placement would be announced. We practiced for an hour and a half before they announced the chairs. I was so rediculously nervous. I probably looked like I was going to throw up. When they finally announced the first soprano section I was extremely relieved when they announced that I was fourth chair out of twenty five first sopranos no was so excited! The rest of districts could be fun now that I knew my fate. 

That night the Bradford girls, including me, were moved out of our nasty house into a very nice, clean house. I was very thankful. 

The rest of my week was spent in extremely long practices with a lot of very interesting people. On Friday night we all went to a movie and on Saturday, we had our concert. I had a really great time and am very excited for regions next month! 

A Role Model Lost on Earth Is an Angel Gained in Heaven (PB)

This past week, a very important man that attended my church for years passed away. His name was Fran McCoy and he would do any thing for anyone and always put his own issues on the back-burner when you needed help.  Fran was a great guy and will be greatly missed, but upon the loss of Fran, it got me thinking.  What does it really mean to leave a legacy?  I mean, Fran left one, didn't he?  I looked up the definition of legacy, and here is what it said:

anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor

 I thought that this was a really vague and boring definition.  It does not truly define a legacy.  A legacy is so much more than that.  I wanted a better definition.  I knew that a legacy was more than just a simple definition.  Something with a little more depth.  Something that will last forever, no matter how the earthly trends change.  So, to find the true definition of a legacy, I looked to Fran McCoy's life. 

Fran lived a good life.  He had owned a business and eventually retired from that.  He was always helping people.  If the church doors were open, Fran was there.  Everyone knew him, even if they only went to the Sawyer Church once.  So, now that Franny is gone, it, sort of, feels like there is a hole in our church.  Like something is missing.  Obviously, Fran was loved by many.  Everyone looked up to him and took his advice to heart.  Fran left a legacy that will forever live on. 

So, why, or how, did Fran leave this legacy.  First of all, he never had a negative word to say about anyone.  That is something that is not able to be said about very many people.  Fran was always smiling and always encouraging.  People remember people like that.  When someone is that kind and thoughtful towards you, you don't just forget that person.  That person lives on in your memories.

Another way that Fran left his legacy was by being content with what he had.  He never complained.  He lived a happy and simple life.  He was happy with who he was and because of that he was able to live an enriching and rewarding life. 

So, I think that is how you leave a legacy.  You are a positive person and are content with who you are and the life you are living.  After discovering these things, I decided that a legacy is not something that just happens, it is something that is made over time.  It is a little piece of you that lives on in the hearts of everyone you have touched over the years after you are gone.  Whether it is a memory someone has of you, or a piece of advice you once gave someone, it still means something and that is what a legacy is.

Thanks Fran, for the legacy you left.

Christmas 101: Mandi's Guide to Everything Christmas (PB)

Christmas!  "It's the most wonderful time of the year," and I truly believe that it is.  The joy that radiates off of people during the holiday season is contagious, hopefully.  So, I have created a step by step plan to help the holidays run smoothly for everyone involved.    

Step 1: Decorations
Decorations are a very important part of Christmas.  It's one of the best ways to spread some holiday cheer.  So, always be sure to decorate.  At my house, we decorate excessively.  It is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit!  Without decorations, my house would be very dull at Christmas.  

Step 2: Christmas Music
Don't think that it is a bad thing to play Christmas music long before the Christmas season actually starts.  (January is the perfect time to start listening!)  I think that music is almost the most important part of Christmas.  Without Christmas music and carols, what would there be to listen to?  It would be really boring to not have special music to listen to for the holiday season. 

Step 3: Gifts
I completely understand that Christmas is not all about presents, but come on, admit it; it is fun to receive presents on Christmas.   Be sure to put a lot of thought into the gifts that you give.  After all, it is the thought that counts. 

Step 4:  The True Meaning of Christmas
Throughout all of the hustle and bustle, it is sometimes hard to remember that Christmas isn't simply about the commercialized version that we have all come to love and enjoy.  During this special season, we need to remember the truly amazing gift that the entire world was given: a tiny babe wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger.  A baby that would touch the world: Jesus Christ.  I believe that it is important to enjoy all the other aspects of Christmas, like Santa and gifts and pretty Christmas lights, but it is also important to keep our eyes fixed on what truly matters, and that is the true Miracle of Christmas. 

So this holiday season, enjoy yourself!  It really is such a fun time of the year, but don't forget that what Christmas is truly about.  Have a blessed and happy holiday season!  Merry Christmas everyone!

The Happiest Place On Earth (PB)

Tonight I just got back from Disney World, so I figured that I would write a blog about my vacation. 

Day 1: The Dreaded 24 Hour Bus Ride

Imagine sixty people stuck on a bus to Florida for 24 hours. Now imagine those people all, pretty much, being high schoolers. Sounds like a pretty rough trip. But in reality, the bus ride down was not really that bad. 

Day 2: Animal Kingdom

We finally had all made it to Animal Kingdom after we waited out the rain for a while. We eventually made it around 11am. While there, my group went on a safari, met some characters, and ate great pizza. The highlight of Animal  Kingdom was the safari, which was very cool. We were able to see zebras right next to our safari car and see giraffes eating from trees. It was amazing to see beautiful creatures living out their daily lives. 

Still Day 2: Magic Kingdom

Also on the second day of my crazy vacation, everyone had the opportunity to  travel to the Magic Kingdom at night to watch the parade at night, ride rides, and do other various things like meet characters. This night was one of my favorites because I met Anna and Elsa from Frozen. This was probably one of the best things I have ever done in my life. I think I almost cried when I met Anna. (She's my favorite)  

This night there was also a very intense rain storm so we had to leave early, but not before we had enjoyed a couple of rides and a good meal.  

Day 3: Downtown Disney

Today was the day that I would get to perform in Disney World with my choir. I was so excited! Also, today, everyone was able to walk around Downtown Disney and do some shopping. 

Since we were going to be marching with the band on Thanksgiving day, everyone that went on the trip met at Planet Hollywood for dinner. It was so much fun and the food was delicious. (Except for the stuffing, that was gross) 

Day 4: Magic Kingdom/Thanksgiving Day

Today was probably the craziest day of my life so far.  I was busy the entire time. I rode tons of rides, met so many character, like Cinderella, Mickey Mouse, Rapunzel, and Minnie Mouse, and I ate so much food.  The day started out with meeting the princesses mentioned above. They were so sweet!  

Today I had the opportunity to march down Main Street USA in Disney World. It was the most amazing experience of my life. There were so many people watching us. I had never felt so happy before. It was the greatest thing to be a Disney cast member for the day. I would never trade that experience for the world. 

Day 5: Epcot

Epcot is amazing. From being taken into the future, to traveling through eleven countries, I was mesmerized by all of the sights and sounds. I traveled through places like: France, Morocco, Mexico, Italy, and Germany. Every country was unique and beautiful in their own way. We also watched a beautiful fireworks show at the end of the night that was spectacular. 

Day 6: Hollywood Studios

Today was our last day at Disney. It was the nicest and warmest day, as far as weather goes. (Of course, the day we leave)  In Hollywood Studios, there were a lot of shows to watch. They were all absolutely beautiful.  My two favorite shows were the Frozen Sing-Along, and Beauty and the Beast. They were fabulous. I was very sad when we had to leave such a wonderful place. 

Day 7: The Journey Home

Everyone was completely exhausted. We all were sleep deprived. Pretty much everyone slept well on the bus ride home.  It was sad to be leaving Disney World, but happy to be coming home. I had had a fantastic trip, but I could not wait to sleep in my own bed. I was really happy when we made it home. 

So there you have it, my trip to Florida in a nutshell. Goodnight everyone!

My Puppy's First Birthday is Tomorrow (PB)

This is the abridged story of my puppy's, Bentli's, life, in honor of his first birthday tomorrow.

Going to pick up Bentli in Clarion; January 18th, 2014:
It was a really cold, winter day when my family, and the "adopted" family member of the day, Lindsey, got in the car and drove the two hour journey to pick up this puppy that I had found on Pennswoods about two weeks before.  I had fallen in love with a little two pound puppy that I had only seen in pictures.  After the long drive there, I was about to burst with excitement when we had arrived at Deb's house, the original owner of Bentli.  When my family, Lindsey, and I first walked in the door, right next to us sat a little, dark brown puppy that could melt the coldest hearts.  I literally almost cried when I saw him I was so happy.  (Ask Lindsey; it's true.)  During the car ride home with Bentli, we discovered that he was afraid of the dark.  Lindsey had to hold Bentli up in the palm of her hand when cars went by with their lights on because he would cry if you didn't.  Bringing Bentli home was a very fun and interesting experience.

The day we picked Bentli up

The first few nights with the puppy:
He did not want to sleep alone.  Long story short; I did not get a lot of sleep.

The day Bentli got fixed:
While Bentli was at the vet's office almost the entire day, it was really boring and quiet at my house.  When we were finally allowed to go pick Bentli up, he was heavily "drugged."  He would not move on his own.  We had to physically move his paws out from under him to make him lie down and take a nap.  He slept the entire rest of day and watched movies with my mom and I.  Bentli also loved the cone that the vet's office gives you to put on your animal after surgery.  (That was extremely sarcastic)  He HATED it.  He was pretty miserable for the next few days.

Miserable Bentli

Bentli's first time going to the groomers:
The first time we took Bentli to the groomer's, Bentli was really bad.  All that he had to have done was get the hair around his eyes trimmed and his toenails clipped, but, apparently, he could not handle that much excitement.  He was terrible and was probably considered the worst dog at the groomer's for the next couple months.  Since that first visit, though, Bentli has become a little angel at the groomer's and looks forward to getting new "fur-styles."

Bentli on the 4th of July after being groomed

Today: 

Today I love this little puppy just as much as I did the first day that I met him.  My life would be pretty dull without this rambunctious little spit-fire.  Even though my parents were sceptical at first about getting a dog, I do not think that they can imagine a life without Bentli in it.  He is definitely a permanent part of the family that we would not trade for the world.  Bentli might not always be the best behaved puppy, but he is our puppy.  So, Happy 1st Birthday Bentli!  Love, Your Family

Horror Films Might Do More Than Just Scare People (PB)

Last night I was at a Halloween party where we watched the movie "Carrie." I was crying while being surrounded by my friends that were not scared... at all. I seriously thought that Carrie was going to jump out of the television and kill me.  So why did I put myself through that?  Why would I watch something that I knew was going to the me nightmares for the next week?

For those of you who don't know what the movie Carrie is about, here is a short synopsis: A girl gets bullied.  Her name happens to be Carrie, hence the title.  **SPOILER ALERT**  She ends ups getting revenge on everyone at her senior prom by killing almost everyone, including her mom, using her magical levitation powers. Carrie dies in the end.

I think that the reason that I watched this movies was because, first of all, all of my friends were watching it.  I couldn't be the big baby that had to walk out of the room (peer pressure at its best), but second of all, I knew that there was a greater meaning than just a crazy teenager going around killing everyone.  Why do you think that Carrie killed everyone in the first place?  SHE WAS BULLIED.  None of the girls that bullied her in the beginning could have ever thought that they were going to die at their senior prom because of what they did to Carrie.  They never considered how the things they did to Carrie could really hurt her.

How many people really think about their actions before they actually do them?  I don't think that many people do.  People can only be hit with mean remarks towards them before they break.  Nobody should have to go through something like that.  Each life is precious in its own way, even if you don't necessarily think that about everyone in your life.  So, think before you say something that you might regret.  Encourage people.  Compliment people.  You never know, but a compliment that you give someone might make someone's day.

"Don't let anyone's hate, drama, negativity stop you from becoming the best person you can be."

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