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.