Stop Motion

I haven't written in a couple days, so I figure it's just about time to. It's a Friday night. I've had school since Tuesday. School isn't all so bad. I get to see my friends again that I didn't get to see over summer. It's nice to be in orchestra again. I really like my English teacher so far. I'm understanding the math we've done. Biology isn't terrifying or gross... yet. I'm taking photography, which I'm really looking forward to. German is German. And history seems like it'll be tolerable.

In Colorado currently, there's an airshow going on. It'll be going on today, tomorrow, and Sunday. Tonight was the twilight show. It's cool because you can see a lot of it right from my own backyard. Unfortunately, there's a very large tree across the street though, and it does block some of the view. I didn't watch very much of it because I didn't know that very much of it was going on. Luckily my dad called me down just as the fireworks started. Together, my mom, dad, and I all raced down the street to the hill at the end of our neighborhood, and we watched the fireworks. Perfect view. It was a great way to end the day.

Also, I made two videos. They're both stop motion animation, which I was trying for the very first time. One I made using an original Etch A Sketch. One I made with a simple piece of notebook paper. Check them out:

They're both really short, but I think that's okay. I think they shouldn't be stretched out too much. If you watched them, then thank you very much!

Smile, Everyone!

I was at a preseason Bronco game tonight. And although the Broncos won, that's not what I'm happy about. During the first quarter of the game, they showed on the scoreboard thing for a brief second, a player handing a little kid the football. I thought that was the coolest thing ever. The little kid looked so happy. It just reminded me that not everyone in the world is arrogant and rude.

On the other hand...

I wish people would smile more. I wish people would put other people's needs before their own. I wish people would call other people "beautiful." I wish people would have open minds. I wish people would learn to laugh. I wish people would be courteous. I wish families would love each other. I wish people would be best friends with their siblings. I wish money wasn't important. I wish people would focus on the present and the future. I wish people would be honest. I wish people would dance. I wish people would sing, even if they can't carry a tune. I wish people had more patients. I wish people would take chances. I wish people would learn to really love.

I wish people wouldn't stress over small things. I wish people wouldn't be arrogant. I wish people wouldn't use the word "ugly." I wish people wouldn't cuss. I wish people wouldn't fight. I wish people wouldn't be rude. I wish people wouldn't lie. I wish people wouldn't focus so much on the past. I wish people wouldn't worry.

I think everyone should challenge themselves to be better people. If you can't change the world, then change yourself.

Okay.

I like to listen for my footsteps because mine are very quiet. My parents often don't hear me coming, and sometimes my presence startles them. I find it kind of funny.

So, I'm entering the world of being an only-child. I don't know if I like that. Today, my mom had me go to work with her. I think that's because she didn't want me to be alone. She kept me busy, stapling papers and cutting things out. I think I helped out, and it was good to be doing something other than sitting around and thinking all day. When we got home, we ate dinner with my dad. And since then, I've been sitting in my room, trying to come up with something that I could do. My mom even texted me from downstairs to see if I was okay. And I am okay. I'm not much better than okay, though. I feel kind of empty, and it's not just because my brother left.

I've also been feeling the need to write something new. I know I should probably be editing my book, but I don't really want to right now. I want to start something new, and I want to finish it. I don't really have any ideas, though. So starting something is kind of difficult.

I have nothing else to say right now.

Ask Yourself...

So, what's on your mind today, Alex?

Oh, nothing, really.

What's new?

I bought some new songs on iTunes. I decided to check out Ellie Goulding today, and I was impressed, I must say. So I bought three of her songs today.

Anything else?

My brother is moving into his dorm tomorrow. He's going to college in Greeley.

Are you sad about that?

Yes, and no. I mean, things will change. He won't be home to bother at any given time. But then again, he won't be far from here. I'm just worried that these things that we do together, we might not do again. I really hope that isn't the case, though.

What sounds are you hearing right now?

Um, not many. I hear my brother's music. My own ended, and I'm too lazy to put it back on. Aside from that, all I can really hear is my fingers hitting this keyboard.

Look to your left. What do you see?

I see three Coca-Cola cans, stacked on top of each other... I see an empty glass... I see my scanner, and my printer that doesn't really work.. All sorts of things.

Okay, I'm done asking myself random questions now. Last thoughts?

I have to get up early tomorrow to help my brother move in. Meh.

UPDATE.

I own a ukulele now. You're jealous.

Whattowrite,whattowrite,whattowrite..

It was nice, I went camping this weekend, and I just got home. I stepped into my room to set down my iPod, phone, and ukulele (yes, I took my ukulele camping), and I was greeted by the scent of perfume and incense. My room smells good. That makes me a happy elf.

Mmkay, I'm done making the words "ukulele" and "elf" different colors.

^ Meet Tiny Tim. He's my ukulele hero. ^

What else?

OH! I just finished writing the rough draft of my book. Excellent. The next step is to go through it and change things, and remove things, and add things. Because of the length it is currently, I will also be working to make it longer.

If you're curious, my book is about a girl named Avery who dies a tragic, early death on the happiest day of her life so far. Luckily, there's an Afterlife. Unfortunately, there's just as much to worry about in the Afterlife as was before. (Insert suspenseful music here.)

My brother's in a band. Is your brother in a band? I didn't think so.

Yes, Ukuleles.

I think I might as well talk about the ukulele today. That's not random, I promise. I just want to play the ukulele so bad. This is coming from someone who also plays piano and the double bass in my school's orchestra. I want to be able to play something that I can carry with me, rather than something that generally has to stay in one place.

I'm already coming up with a list of songs that I'd like to learn once I get my uke. Hopefully I'll have enough money after I get paid for my current dog sitting job. I'm looking at one called the Lanikai LU-11, which probably doesn't mean much to you unless you've been looking up ukuleles all weekend. The picture above is kind of similar to it. ^

Here's ten things that are on my mind right now:

1.) There's a small pile of ash from incense on my desk and it bugs me.

2.) My cousin and I really should go on this Alaska road trip that we were talking about last night.

3.) I have nothing to do besides blog about ukuleles.

4.) The song I was listening to just ended, and now it's quiet.

5.) I have notification on Facebook. One moment.

6.) Just kidding, it lied and I didn't really have any notifications.

7.) I hate Facebook.

8.) #7 is only partly true.

9.) It's still quiet.

10.) I don't have anything to put for #10.

Shark Week!

Okay, so it's Shark Week. Apparently it started on Discovery Channel, and now it's a pretty big deal. I hope the sharks of the world know that we have a whole week devoted to them. I hope they're partying like it's the end of the world. No one ever says sharks are smart, though. Maybe it'd be more appropriate to have Dolphin Week, so they can actually know what's going on with us humans. It just doesn't have the same ring to it!

If you saw my last post, you probably watched the Cone-ing video that I took with my two friends, Destiny and Bree. That same day, we decided to call the Denver Aquarium to wish them a happy Shark Week. Here's the video:

Well, that's all for today. I think I'm going with my mom and brother to look at mini fridges for my brother's college dorm room. Go UNC, FEAR THE CLAW!!

Cone-ing!

Well, it seems to be a pretty big deal now. There are videos and pictures everywhere of planking, cone-ing, cup-ing, gnome-ing, owling, and whatnot. And to be completely honest, I have in fact filmed a cone-ing. Here it is:

We kind of invented rock-ing, leaving a rock there when we receive our order, and if you pay close attention, you'll see the guy from Goodtimes take the rock inside.

The only thing I don't understand is why people talk so poorly about it. I think it's pretty fun and pretty hilarious. Getting ice cream all over your hands is kinda gross though.