Lunchtime

Actually, I am a vegetarian, but I live in a house where meat is consumed every single day. Especially chicken. I figured that since I have this cool picture of spoons, I needed something to go with it, because it'd probably look dumb if I just had some spoons. So while the chicken was on the stove, I tried to make it look as appealing as possible.

-A

Story Time

“Get up!”

The girl awoke with a start. Elizabeth had heard her dreaded step mother call from upstairs and she was in no hurry to greet her. Who could blame her? The wicked witch of a wife and a mother was unkind to her husband and his daughter. This unfortunately was her, Elizabeth. Then Elizabeth’s father had gotten himself cancer. His death had left a small fortune to his wicked wife and nothing for his sweet, innocent, daughter. Then the step mother made it her life’s mission to make Elizabeth’s life a living hell. If that wasn’t bad enough the twins, Amanda and Taylor came along for the ride. They were just jealous Elizabeth supposed, she had the good looks and the smarts, while they were short, fat, and ugly. The only way that anybody told them apart (even their mother) was Amanda having a lazy eye and Taylor missing a quite noticeable tooth. A thing Elizabeth often pondered on was what their real father looked like. Not very handsome she supposed. The Step-Mother was pregnant and dropped out of high school. She often blamed the father for making her do that and throwing her life away.

Another yell from upstairs brought Elizabeth back to the present. She sat up and looked around. Unfortunately she had fallen asleep on the couch again. The coach is much more susceptible to devious attacks from the twins. One time she had fallen asleep and they had dumped ash on her face. When she woke up and looked in the mirror she had almost fainted. It took five showers before the final soot had gotten out of her gleaming blonde hair.

The Step-Mother thought that Elizabeth was taking too long so to make her go faster she screamed, “IF YOU DON’T GET UP HERE IN LESS THAN 5 SECONDS I WILL PERSONALLY SEE TO IT THAT YOU DO NOT GO TO COLLEGE!”

That had done the trick. With a start Elizabeth dashed up the stairs and started her daily workings of catering to The Step-Mother’s every need.

“What is it?” Elizabeth said as kindly as she could muster.

“Brush my hair” The Step-Mother commanded. Elizabeth reluctantly obliged and brushed the mousy brown graying hair. She was due for another dye job. While The Step-Mother was talking Elizabeth noticed that the prosthetic pumped lips were curved in a “I’m laughing but trying to hide it” smile. She looked into the mirror and saw that her beautiful hair was dyed a raven black with pink tips. Elizabeth was mortified. Her face started  furiously blushing. The Step-Mother noticing that Elizabeth finally saw her hair had started hysterically laughing.

“Darling the twins were just looking out for your best interests, now they don’t have to be worried about you being labeled a dumb blonde. And while you’re here I need my laundry done and breakfast made. I’m thinking a sunny side up egg. Oh yeah, and the pool needs cleaned. So hop hop get to it!”

“Yes ma’am” Elizabeth grabbed the hamper and headed downstairs. She was going to wring their fat stubby necks the next time she saw them. As she descended down the stairs she had her chance. Amanda was leaning against the railing and smirking.

“I like your hair.” Taylor said from the other side of the room.

Elizabeth looked at her and weighed her options.

End Chapter 1; How do you like it? My internet was down and I was bored! I also just watched a Cinderella story so excuse me for the subject matter all copyrights go to their respective owners. Also,excuse me for any spelling mistakes. Anyhow still working on some pictures should be up soon! -H

Nature vs. Nurture

Actually, this isn't about that biological discussion topic, but since we talked about it last week in bio, thought it'd be a good title.

Welcome to our blog.

Leaf.



The horizon.

The front door.

Look up!

The woods behind my house.

A branch.

A fallen tree.

Floral Photographer

I planned on posting some flowers for Valentine's day, but have been so busy that I haven't gotten around to it yet! But I figured that I might as well just do it, even though Valentine's Day was on Monday. So I'd just like to thank everyone for the Valentines! I loved them all!

These first two were taken on my iPod, so the qualities not really there.

These ones aren't really romantic, but whatever:

-A

Congrats, Maddie!

Just sending a shout-out to swimming star Maddie-O for her stellar swim in the 500 freestyle Thursday night, qualifying her for WPIALS on the last possible day! Way to go, girl!

Maddie dives into the water at a charity swim meet.

-A

Blood, Sweat, and Tears

            You've put in the hours, the effort, your life but..... but what? What have you got to show for it? You try so much but what happens when that isn't enough? You've given your all but your all didn't get you very far. The feelings that crash down upon you when you realize that you're not going to reach your goal is something that is very hard to describe. Disappointment, I think that's the most prominent feeling. Disappointment's exact definition is a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized. Did you set your expectations to high? I don't believe in too high of a goal or expectation. You just have to set a reasonable amount of time to accomplish the goal. As people we are often overwhelmed with wants and goals but are just as often underwhelmed with our performances or actions to reach said goal. Opportunity and dreams are what prompts people to do better and try harder. 

              Another thing you feel is jealousy. There are some people that don't set high goals yet still do just as good if not better than people that do set goals. You know those people. I happen to be related to one, I often find myself comparing myself to him. I think to myself  that it's not fair. But who am I kidding life isn't fair. I like to think that all the stuff that get's handed to him on a silver platter will catch up to him and that one day he'll be brought down to our level and have to work to be good at something. Do I know when why and where it will happen? No. Will that even happen? Probably. Will he man up and be like the rest of us? Well, that's up to him. Even still I can't help but be a little jealous.

                    Would happiness be the same if we didn't have to work to get it? No, I don't believe so. Working towards something is what makes it worthwhile. It can change you, It can make you a better person. Maybe you have to feel a little jealous and a little disappointed before you can achieve your goal. That to me is the only way to feel true achievement and happiness. It's not the journey or the destination, the journey makes the destination. And to me the destination looks pretty darn good. ;)

As you can see I experienced some disappointment but by writing this I sifted through my feelings and got over it.No pics today sorry. -H

Duck Adventures and more!

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Which duck will she choose?

Hippie ducks totally hang out with dinosaurs and monkeys.

Firth is brooding.

One for One

Congratulations to the seniors and thanks for the cake!

Sooo I have no excuse for my absence. I hope I made up for it with all these photos! I plan on posting something special for Valentines Day tomorrow! Anyway see you later! -H

After School Fun

We had to stay after school to help set up for a diving meet, and though my creative juices were worn out, I managed a few cool ones:

Joe and I have the same shoes.

2.11.11

Young musical trombone prodigy Eric walks down the hall carrying his prized possession.

2.11.11

Here's a skylight, but there's no light from the sky.

My favorite shoes!

A student grapples with the option of pulling the fire alarm.

Concessions are that way.

Sorry, Blog Buddy, that I posted three in a row. Better get a move on on those pics!

-A

I know that we usually alternate who posts, but I have some great pictures that I took from today. We went downtown during school for a Shakespeare Competition, then had free time to walk around our beautiful city.

Downtown is home to the Cultural District, where this beautiful fountain had frozen over in the chill winter air.

Everyone else got Charley's Subs. I, on the other hand, had a whole wheat peanut butter sandwhich and soymilk.

In support of heart disease, wear red.

The Hallmark store was especially busy today in preparation for Valentine's Day on Monday!

Some necklaces.

The sky was so blue today!

According to some lady at Subway, I was window shopping on the wrong side of the window.

This is my favorite building in all of downtown.

Market Square, Downtown

A blue sky.

A bathroom at PPG Place.

This garden was "closed for the season", which I don't really understand.

Maddie reflected in a shiny table at PPG Place.

I realize that this post was extremely long, but I thought it would be silly to put it into two.

-A

Etc. Etc. Etc.

Here's an aloe plant in my kitchen window.

Tissue Box in the Backseat.

The White Rabbit's Pocket Watch.

Courtesy of Rebecca Love.

I took this when I was reminiscing all the things that I'd miss at the Old High School. (Josh, don't be creeped out! :) You should take it as a compliment.)

Here's another plant.

This was taken in Washington DC. Notice the Patriotic colors.

Hopefully, soon a new camera will be in my clutches, because I've probably had a hundred moments where I wished I had my camera.

-A

Some more Pictures of the Old School

I've begun to realize that I use soft focus quite a lot. Personally I believe that it creates the photo. It chooses something for the viewer to really look at and doesn't overwhelm them with many things that can be in a photo. Anyway here's some photos -H

Construction

Clock in the old school

Hallway in the old school

Bathroom sign in the old school

Tiger in the old school

Lone Locker