Youtube Projects

As you probably know, my sister and I have created our own account on youtube and posted some of our videos. I got an idea to start what I call a "project," basically a set of videos with the same general topic. I started out with Part 1 of my Irish History timeline where people can easily learn more about Ireland's history through a slideshow with pictures and music. I expect to make maybe four, possibly five different videos to get through the whole timeline because youtube doesn't accept videos that are more than ten minutes long. I've finished part 1 but am still waiting for my mom to watch it before I post it. I hope it will get a good response; it would be so cool to have a big video with thousands of views.
I'm just starting another project called "Elise's Screencaps." If you don't know, screencaps are captions taken from movies, music videos, etc. I've done it different than the traditional way (because I'm not that advanced) and my first set will be called "Princess Leia: In Action," featuring pictures of her from "A New Hope" to "Return of the Jedi." I've just about finished actually taking the pictures but will still need to find good music, which can be a challenge sometimes. I will also do other movies such as Twilight, Harry Potter, etc.
My third project I hope to start is a series of me performing my piano pieces. It would be cool if Jenny would play hers too, but she isn't very fond of piano and probably wouldn't agree. Anyway, I want to record pieces like my Chopin "Prelude in e minor," Schubert's "Moment Musical," Debussy's "Golliwog's Cakewalk" and (when I learn it all) "Clair de lune", and George Winston's Black Stallion."
I hope all these projects will work out and I hope that you will watch my videos!

Almost done with Braces...

I will get my braces off in almost exactly one month. My first round of braces was mainly to fix skeletal problems with my mouth and chin. That worked out wonderfully. I had them on when I was about nine and ten. Then, the summer before 7th grade I got braces put on again, this time to actually straighten my teeth. So, let's just say that I've had a lot of dental work done. I've had these on for two years now and am ready to be done with them. The thing is, I've been noticing lately that my teeth still aren't as perfect as I would like them to be. There's a couple little gaps that I wish would be fixed, but I know that there isn't much time for that. I guess I'm just a little worried that all the work and money we put into them will pay off, but not as perfectly as it could be. Maybe I'm overshooting and exaggerating a lot here, but when I try to image my teeth metal-less, I'm not completely satisfied. I've had a couple friends who had recently gotten their off, too. One of them has pretty much perfect teeth now. The other one's teeth look even better, but they had to have some work on their gums before it was completely done. I hope I'm just worrying for no reason and that they will look great. But I'm still not so sure.

Facebook and Youtube!

I'm really exicted that I finally have a Facebook page! All my friends have one, and so I decided it may be fun to have one too. And boy, was I right! It's a lot of fun to visit your friends pages, chat with friends, look at their pictures, make your own, and so on. I also like it because it's very safe. Unlike MySpace, only people you invite can look at your page. So far, I have 50 friends (that's actually not a lot)! I love Facebook!
I also learned how to upload videos onto Youtube! Now me and my sister have our own account: eliseandjenny09. So far, we have updated four videos! It's really not hard once you learn. And it's really cool to have your own video that you made be able to be seen by the entire world!!!!!!!!!!!!!Anyway, that's what's new with me and my awesome computer skills. ^_^
(yea, I learned how to make that face!)
Here are our videos so far!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bodhhO7B-g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMuZJxLdJ2s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAdzuI8AL50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYM-1I9L0xM

Demi Lovato!

I've really come to like teen singer sensation Demi Lovato. She is a really talented young singer and actress who captures your heart.
She grew up in Texas and started doing pageants which inspired her acting career. She also was auditioning for a part on Barney in 1999 with long-time best friend Selena Gomez when they were 7. She got the part along with Selena (coincedence? I think not!!!). But when they were getting older and Barney "gave them the boot," Demi continued to work with modeling agencies and she took piano and guitar lessons.
Later, in 2006, Hollywood called: Selena was cast in Disney's "Wizards of Waverly Place" and moved to LA. This was a sad time for Demi. She had also auditioned for Disney, but didn't make the cut. Still, she was happy for her friend. This made their friendship even stronger. Demi and her family moved to LA with the Gomez's so she could audition for other roles there.
Demi's time came in 2007. After appearing on Disney's mini-show "As the Bell Rings," she scored the lead role in the Disney Channel original movie, "Camp Rock." She was opposite the Jonas Brothers and soon became considerably more famous among teens. After all that, she landed the lead role in Disney's show, "Sonny with a Chance."
Soon after, Demi started recording songs for her '08 debut album, "Don't Forget." Selena and Demi's friendship has stayed strong and they got to work together in the Disney Channel movie, "Princess Protection Program."
Today Demi's brand new CD, "Here We Go Again," came out in stores and on iTunes. The CD's title song came out first as a single, and I bought it and loved it. I bought four other songs from her CD and put them on my iPod already.
I love Demi's personality. She seems like a really fun person to be around. I can recognize her acting and musical talents easily as she performs. I think it would be really cool to go to one of her concerts. I hope you check out Demi Lovato.
I heart you Demi!! -Elise (special thanks to People magazine)
Watch Demi's most recent video, "Here We Go Again!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZImSdnanWhs

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

I went and saw the 6th Harry Potter movie on Saturday with my friend Lindsey, her parents, and my sister. It was a really good movie, and I enjoyed seeing it for the first time (I know that I will soon own it and be watching it over and over). The plot was slightly slower than the other movies, but it needed to be because of the increasing romance themes and the needed transitional period before the final two installments (yes, you heard me right-two. They are making two separate films of the seventh book. It's that complicated!). Still, the movie had just enough action and mystery that it did not become boring at all. Also, I liked the fact that there was a little more comedy added into the dialouge than before. The only component that I didn't care for, however, was the budding love between Ginny and Harry. It's not that they aren't lovely together, but the way they incorperated that love into the movie was much different than the book. In the book, their first kiss was after the final Quidditch match in which Gryffindor won. In the movie, it was a teeny, yet perfect kiss in the Room of Requirement. Also in the book, Harry explains to Ginny near the end that they cannot be together anymore because of what Harry plans to do in the next chapter of his series. He doesn't want to put her in any danger, and at first Ginny is hesitant to agree (duh) but then does. In the movie, there was no such dialouge and Ginny seemed to have been forgotten by the end of the film.
Still, I really enjoyed the movie. I recommend you watch it as well!

Sims!

In case you don't know, the Sims 2 is a interactive computer game where you can create your own people and their personalities. You can also create homes for them to live in. It's really fun to control your Sims and make them do whatever they need or whatever you want. My sister got the game while I was at church camp and we play on it so much now! I only have one family while she has 3.
Making your Sims is only half the fun. You give them a name, their looks, their clothes, and their personality before adding them to your family. Customizing your house is really fun too. Give them a huge pool, a karaoke machine, fire wallpaper, pinball machines, flat screen TVs, and so much more.
The world of Sims is very amusing. They all just want to be social and have fun. But they have a lot of things they need. You are in charge of getting them to the bathroom, giving them a shower, letting them eat, sleep, or have fun. If you don't, your Sims will become dreadfully cranky and may even collapse on the floor.
But all in all, Sims is a fun pastime for teens to do with friends or by themselves. I really enjoy it. My sister can hardly stay off!
PS- if you have a boy Sim, there will be a tinkling xylophone noise when they use the bathroom! It's hilarious!

Annoucing Baby Catherine and Carnegie Hall News for Lovely Meav

I am overjoyed for Meav as she celebrates the birth of her new baby daughter, Catherine, born in June. This is her second daughter. Her first is Anna, born in 2005. I wish her family joy, peace, and happiness and they celebrate the miracle of Catherine.
Also, Meav will be performing as a soloist in Carnegie Hall with the New York pops orchestra in March of 2010. She will be joined onstage by renowned tenor Ronan Tynan, violinist Liz Knowles and uileann piper Keiran O' Hare in a celebration of Irish music. This is a big opputunity, one that I'm glad Meav can have. She deserves it.

School's out for Summer

Yes, it's true. This is a good thing! I should be feeling blissful inside and jumping for joy...but instead I'm feeling kind of...sad.
And I know why, too. I am moving on to high school, and none of my really good friends will be there. I'll know that I'll meet new ones, but I can't help feeling that I will slowly lose all the really great friends I have made these past two years.
I will also very much miss Pacetti Bay and how much I enjoyed it there. It will always be a part of my heart, and I will always be a Wildcat inside. I will also miss my teachers. I had really good ones this year, and most of them I will never even see again.
So, all in all, I agree that summer will be fun. I'm trying to imagine all the great times I will have with my family and friends. But I can't get past all the bad stuff. And it's really really really annoying me. :(

Updates!

**6 More Days of School!!** School gets out on June tenth this year. I can't wait 'til all the fun end-of-the-year activities! 8th graders get their yearbooks two days early, we have a Cat Cash auction, we're watching a movie in the auditorium, and we have our formal banquet/dance!! I really am going to miss all my friends who are going off to Nease. I'll also miss all my awesome teachers. But if I don't move on, I'll never gain my future, right?
**New Story** Sorry I haven't mentioned this before (I'm already on page, like, sixty), but it's a really good story. The main charcter's name is Carrie. I can't explain the plot right now. More later.
**House Imporvements** Finally! We're about to have hardwood floors out in (any day now). After that, we're taking the boxwood bushes and moving them out behind the screen enclosure so you can see the front of our house better. We've also bought some new barstools, but we're still in need of some new family room furniture. We're re-doing our kid's retreat this summer, too. It's a lot to do, but we're finally starting to make good progress on it.
**Princess Protection Program** New Disney Channel Movie staring Selena Gomez (wizards of waverly place) and Demi Lovato (singer, Sonny with a chance). It airs at 8:00 eastern time on June 26. Thats 23 days! I hope we can watch it and that its good!
**Next Food Network Star** New summer season starts this Sunday, June 7th. I looove that show! Our family watches it like some people watch American Idol. I can't wait 'til it airs!
That's all for now. Again, I'll have more on that new story later. Bye!

No more Swimteam!!!!!

Maybe you remember that "structured exercise program" we were doing called swimteam...well, we've talked our parents into letting us not do it this year! Me and my sis are sooooo happy. We'll have such a better summer. We will still have an exercise program, but it should be more fun because some of it will be with family and there will be a lot more variety. I just hope that I will be able to develop a healthy habit and liking for exercise. It's not that I don't like to do it, it's just that swimteam is like cruel and unusual punishment for us. I'm so happy that I was able to convince mom and dad that swimteam is not in our best interest...even though they think it is!

Pacetti Bay Middle School Talent Show

It was held on Thursday, April 23 (a week from tomorrow) from 6 to 8:30 pm. It was a really great experience, especially for those who participated in the show. There was no judging; it was just a night to see your fellow students and teachers show off their talent. It was number 4 in act one, and I sang "Danny Boy," my favorite Irish tune. There were a lot of great acts, and a couple not-so-great ones. There were 3 dance groups from each grade, the cheerleading squad, 3 singers (including me), 2 piano players, one guitarist, two bands, one concert band trio, one unicyclist, and one comedy act (a funny impersonation of George Bush). There was also a dance group made up solely of teachers (four of which are, or have been, mine), back by popular demand from last year. They call themselves the Aquanets (after a type of popular hairspray back in the 70s), and I think it was everyone's favorite act. Someone taped it and put it on youtube, and I'd love it if you would watch! Here it is: Mrs. McLaughlin, Ms. DeMaio, Mrs. Norris, Ms. Burke :), Mrs. Ryan, and Mrs. Ishee performing their 2008/2009 Aquanets dance Routine! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjhseDVXf0k
Also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEPKyQk75tk&feature=channel_page Here is the impersonation of George Bush from earlier(turn up your volume 4 this one!!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpYWgV8XPPc&feature=channel Another comedy act performed by band teacher Mr. Rankin that was a spoof off of a Saturday Night Live Episode.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edUat0K3U04&feature=related One of the dance acts

Awesome Youtube Links

It's that time! Get ready for a large list of youtube videos you NEED TO SEE! I really wish I knew how to post a youtube video myself- if you know, please tell me in the comments section of this blog or tell me a site that gives instructions!

Anyway, here's my current list:

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmjO1p9Oxrk This is one of my favorite music videos ever! Demi Lovato's "La la land" this song is totally me!!!

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGlxLeSl1D8 This is actually a taped concert of-yes-wonderful Meav! Turning Stone, NY

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TN5umzSnFU Paula Abdul's "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow"

4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCL2Qyt8vvY Cute video celebrating Star Wars' Princess Leia- set to a cover of Queen's classic- Killer Queen.

5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nda_OSWeyn8 I love leprechauns, but these folks are just plain stupid (notice the crackhead lady and the arfican-american who thinks he's part Irish!).

6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWS5kGP2pSQ&feature=PlayList&p=E96D01936362FF4E&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=28
Pixar Short Film, "Lifted."

7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8Y_d0_N4rI Celtic Woman interview on CNN

8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-B2dK4kr7o California Cheese Cow commerical (I love how they make the sheep Scottish!).

9. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaTXRaSvq-M "Jesus Muzik" music video by Christian rapper Lecrae (featuring Trip Lee).

10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7Yb2bkuh9I And finally a beautiful tribute to Meav Ni Mhaolchatha.
I hope you enjoyed these vids. Check back in soon!

Great News!!!!!!

Great news! I got a call monday night saying that I was accepted into Douglas Anderson! I was extremely overjoyed! I was so happy, I couldn't believe it. I was accepted in both of my areas-voice and creative writing. You can only chose one, though, so I'm going with voice. It's definately my passion, and voice is something that's hard to be self-taught, unlike writing. I just hope that all my other friends who tried out have gotten their calls, and have been just as happy. When I told my teachers that I got in, they were all so happy for me, and I was grateful for their support. I've support from so many people thorughout the journey, and I want to thank them. And I'd like to thank my parents too, who helped me a TON. Without them, I couldn't have done it. And finally, I want to thank God for the talents he's given me, and letting me be accepted into my heaven on earth.

Secret Sea

Do you remember me telling you about a story I was writing about a ghost and a girl who discovers her? The one that's set in Ireland? I called it, "Secret Sea," after Meav Ni Mhaolchatha's third solo album, which gave me the inspirtation for that story. Now, the title is "Secret Sea," and I've spent a lot of time editing it with my family. Recently, we had it bound at the office store, and I've given it out to several people to read! These people include: Ms. Lindsay Burke, Mrs. Stacy Giangaspro, Mrs. Candy Watson, Mrs. Cheryl O'Conner, Mrs. Amanda Williams, my Virginia family, my Aunt Nancy in Southern California, and my great-grandmother and her caretaker, Mr. Jesse Merrell. I was so excited to get it "pre-published", and so happy that I was really done with my first ever "novella" ( term meaning 'little novel'; thank to Mrs. Candy for letting me know what that is!). I love it and I think it's a wonderful story.

Ireland

Yes, the country, but no, not the country. I'm reading a book called "Ireland" by Frank Delaney. It's a really good book about a storyteller who comes to visit the house of O'Mara. Little Ronan O'Mara knows for sure that the storyteller was sent to him as his own personal wizard, and is enchanted everytime a story is told unto him, and all the neighbors who come in the house to hear as well. They are wonderful stories, because the book tells the stories as the man is telling them, as well as what happens after and in between stories. So far, I've heard four stories from the storyteller; one about the architect of Newgrange (if you're even a small fan of Ireland, you know what this is), King Conner of Ulster (the northern province), Saint Patrick and how he banished snakes and the devil out of his country, and about Saint Brendan and his travels on the sea. It's an amazing book so far, and a very mysterious one too. I'd never heard of it before, and it's not a book you see most eighth graders reading. Double thanks to Mrs. O'Conner for letting me borrow it!!!
Erin go bragh!

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts

Have you ever been to a place where you felt like you were in a heaven-on-earth? The day we took a tour of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, I felt that way. Even though the school was a little old, and for most people is just another school option, for me it was a place I knew I would be able to escape and to express myself freely. You have to audition to get in, and mine is tomorrow!!!!!!!! I'm actually auditioning twice- once for creative writing tomorrow and once for voice on monday the ninth. I'm pretty tense about it. I'm feeling a lot of pressure about it, too, since there's already enough stuff going on. I know for a fact that if I don't respond well to the questions they ask me, that could prohibit me from getting in, even if i have a great portolio or if I sang really well. That's the part I'm the most nervous about. I always want not to be too nervous, because then I will sing worse. I'm singing the Italian aria, "La'chia Chi'o Pianga" from the opera Rinaldo, by Handel. It's a really pretty song, and I enjoy singing it. I also have an estabished portfolio with about five different genres: poetry, essay, fiction, editorial, and tall tale. I just hope it will al be enough and I have won't have to worry too much about the questions they ask. Still, I'm preparing to memorize a couple answers to questions they will probably ask. Anyway, wish me good luck. If God wants me there, then I'll be there.

Here is the link to their website; I encourage you to watch the video in the top right corner!!!
http://www.da-arts.org/

Twilight

I know you must be tired of hearing about the amazing new vampire saga, "Twilight", by Stephenie Meyer. Well, guess what? You're gonna get to hear about it some more! Really though, the books are great. Meyer uses a lot of detail, and she's skilled at making good, funny, enjoyable dialog. It's like realistic fiction within a fantasy, which are my two favorite book genres.
When my friends started reading Twilight, and then everyone at my school followed suit, I decided to check it out at the library. I read it in a week (which is actually pretty slow for the average bookworm/twilight nerd), and my mom was impressed. I really enjoyed it! After reading a few other books, I picked up New Moon, the second book in the saga. It was good too, but not nearly as good as the first. Most people will agree with me on this because Edward (the main vampire whom the main non-vampire character had fallen in love with) was not in most of the book. Anyway, I just started Eclipse, the third book in the series, about a week ago. It's just as good as the first, and I'm eager to find out how all of the problems are solved at the end of it.
Another thing I really like about Twilight is the fact that it has a good amount of romance...the kind of romance I like. Normally I can't sit through a romance movie or book for ten minutes or less. I love action movies that have a little bit of romance (star wars and national treasure, for example). Twilight is different because the way Meyer illustrates the romance is perfect, and I go "awww..." instead of cringing. It's really sweet and touching.
If you haven't read any Twilight, I suggest you at least try it, even if fantasy is not your thing. Really, it's a story about a bunch of normal people and seven very....not normal people...and their struggles. That's an awfully bad way to describe it, but trust me...the books are good. And the vampires are too.

Orla...Gone!

As many of you who read my blog know, I absolutely LOVE the Irish supergroup Celtic woman. You also know that I was upset when my favorite member, Meav, left to pursue her solo career. She's had fabulous success and I'm no longer sad or angry that she is gone from the group. I enjoy listening to her solo music and can't wait to sing with her in the future. But now a very important member of the group has decided to follow in Meav's footsteps. Orla Fallon, best know for her voice's haunting Irish qualities and her quick Gaelic tongue, had decided to pursue her career and to focus on her family. I'm very glad she wants to spend more time with her family; I often think about how the families of these girls (especially the children of Lisa, and Meav when she was a "Celtic Woman") deal with them having to be gone all the time. But Celtic Woman will never, ever be the same. A lot of people have half-hope for the continued success of Celtic Woman because three of their best singers left (Hayley Westenra, a 2007 guest with an already great solo career). I do think that Lynn and Alex are definately not as good as the original five ever were, but I would like to be in their shoes. They have a chance to be successful too, and I don't think we should give up on Celtic Woman completely. We can still listen to them on the CDs and remember that their still out there purusing their dreams (I had to think this when my Meav left). Even though Orla, Meav, and Hayley will be missed, I hope that Celtic Woman will still have success. I believe their group will never be as good as they were again, and it would be disatrous if Lisa, Chloe, or Mairead left. Don't lose hope in Celtic Woman, though. They're still a great group with lots of Irish talent. Maybe that's why their 2009 tour is called "Isle of Hope"!