Phantom of the Opera

So, Ever since I read the novel (by Gaston Leroux) I have loved POTO, and now, I REALLY REALLY want to own the movie. Must. Buy. From. Wal-mart. Soon. And I have listened to ALL the songs. And for awhile, I sang them, without thinking. Well, one day, while singing 'Wishing You Were Somehow Here' with Christine, I made a realization. With a few tweaks and much practice, I could very likely copy her voice. And, so my musical journey began. Ask my family, I sang that song none stop. I sang it in the shower, I sang it while washing dishes, I sang it while working, while playing, all. the. time.  And, with much practice, I now can do a fairly good mimic of Emmy's voice in that particular song. It is, in fact, a very easy song to copy her voice in. High enough to have some practice involved (I naturally used to sing lower notes, but since trying to copy her voice, my voice has actually changed, and I now sing higher), but not terribly high, not at all like 'Phantom of the Opera' is. But, it has been my goal to sing Phantom of the Opera. I had tried, and failed. I couldn't get the last really high notes without cracking and running out of breath.  So, instead I went back to WYWSH. Perfecting it, just singing it.  But, I'd like to one day play Christine Daae in a play (don't talk to me about my hair color...it can be fixed). That would involve singing ALL the songs. And so, I've gotten to work.

And today.

I did it.

I sang it.

All.

High notes, low notes, everything.

I've never felt prouder, and worst at the same time.  Does anybody know how much the song hurts? really, stretching my vocal muscles that much was painful. But, I didn't stop. Like a dancer with bleeding feet, I had to continue.  I gave myself a headache from lack of oxygen, and from the pure pressure on my head from singing so high. My lungs hurt terribly, they felt stretched and pulled (and they probably were). My throat felt tired (if you know what I mean. It didn't *hurt* or feel *stretched* just, tired feeling) And I couldn't catch my breath for a couple of minutes. But I did it. I sang Phantom of the Opera.

I felt so entirely proud, I felt like I had completely something so big.

True, it wasn't perfect, I slipped up twice where I took longer getting my breath between lines then Emmy did (how does she do it?). I have a lot more practice to do before it is perfect. And I need to perfect my higher notes still.  It just makes my heart happy to know, Emmy had 5 years of Voice lessons, and I've had none. Absolutely none. That doesn't mean I don't want them. I do. I'm just happy I can mostly sing like a 5 year graduate of voice lessons, and Musical singer, and all that goodness.

However, I just tried to sing it, and messed up big time. I think my voice needs more rest then I thought. It cracked out on my early on, poor little vocal muscles, am I working you too hard? GET USED TO IT SUCKERS!

Signed with a white mask,

P.S Does those huge concrete angels give you shivers as well? They look like huge Weeping Angels!! Don't turn your back Christine!!

"And try you will"

Watched The Hunger Games today.  I added it to my life events on Facebook.

Haters gonna hate, potato's gonna potate, but I LOVED the movie.  I cried, I smiled, I jumped, I saluted.  I loved it all.

Start off, the tribute costumes...I want one like District 12's.  AHHHH!!! CAN I PUHLEEZE BE ON FIRE? Why can't I have a Cinna? why? Why? Why?

Someone in the Cineman went "Awww!" at this point.

You know, instead of posting random pictures and thoughts, maybe I should do this more orderly...

All week Me, Joanna, and Emily had this little outing to see the Games planned.  I will admit, that was the reason for my lack of posting.  All I could think about was The Hunger Games. And I didn't want to bog you readers down with endless fan posts.  I try not to make that happen to often.  Anyway, I had an app on my phone counting down the Days, hours, Minutes and Seconds until we could watch it. 

We got at the Cinema a few (as in, twenty) minutes early, and I was waiting rather impatiently for Emily, her mom and Sister Kayli to show up.  (Joanna wasn't able to watch the movie with us).  I kept checking my countdown app to see how many minutes were left. 
Finally, the other ladies got there, and we bought our tickets, popcorn, candy and Dr. Pepper, and sat down.  Do you know just how annoying those trailers before the movie can be? UGH!  We had to sit through Breaking Dawn 2, Snow White and the Huntsman (Which looked AWESOME), the new Spider man (also Awesome)...and...I think they were all.  It felt like there were 1000 trailers. 

At first, the way they did the cameras did bother me.  It was a little jiggly.  But, after watching it for 5 minutes (I've used time references a lot in this post...) I got used to it, and even grew to like it.

A few highlights of the film for me:

Gale. Is. The. Cutest.  I know girls go gaga over Peeta, and while I don't hate him anymore (He is ok in his own right), Gale is still my favorite between the two.

Cinna.  I detected NO gay traits in him AT ALL.  In fact, if you see Cinna, send him my way.  Cinna is the best thing since creation.

The Tribute Entry.  Oh my Gollygoodness.  It was amazing.  Peeta and Katniss' entry was..blazing hot! Loved it! I want a suit like Katniss'. Badly.

Rue's Death.  Honestly, this was a very sad scene, but for the first time ever, I did a brave thing.  A daring thing. A big thing.  I am a outgoing person, but with people I know.  And I'm not one for making a scene, or drawing attention to myself. But, I knew if I never did it, then I could never live with myself.  When Katniss saluted the crowd after Rue died...Me, Kayli, and Emily did as well.  We kissed our three fingers, and held them high proudly.  I did something very big right then.  Aren't you all proud?

Haymitch.  I was a little nervous about what my Mom would think about the movie, but she loved it! And..she liked Hatmitch best.  She chuckled a few times over his sarcastic snips.  We all love our toughies, don't we?

The tidiness.  I know the reviewer a ranted about earlier thought it much to gory, but I must say, it was very well done.  Outside of little scratches, and burns, the only true bloodiness was on Cato after he and Thresh dueled it out (or did the Mutts attack them?) and when Rue was speared, and that was only a little red spot on her shirt.  When Cato was attacked by the Mutts, it didn't even show him, just a dark outline as he was laying in the shadows.

Also, THE MUTTS WERE HORRIFYING!!! If you haven't watched The Hunger Games yet...be prepared. They are gonna jump out, and scare you.  I was smart, and closed my eyes. Mama didn't, and she jumped.

The Things that kinda bummed me out was how 1) Peeta didn't lose his leg. 2) I think the movie was made for the Fans.  My Mom, never having read the book, didn't understand everything, so I had to explain a lot. 3) Some small details in the Arena were left out. 4) There wasn't more details on Katniss' 'flock of parrots' (AKA, her prep team). 5) Katniss didn't break Peeta's heart in the train at the end, but maybe they plan to do that in Movie 2.  Oh, something I forgot to mention that I liked...In the book, Katniss and Peeta kissed close to 5 times, in the movie it was only twice. I really liked that.

And Caesar was hilarious. Love'im!

After the movie was over, us girls went to a Chinese Buffet, where Joanna met us.  While we were there, this waiter really annoyed me. My two younger brothers are young giants, and I hardly ever go anywhere without them, but tonight, it was just us ladies. Boy oh Boy. Never did I realize just how so doggone annoying stranger guys can be!!  This waiter would not leave us girls alone!!  Jo made a few comments, like, "Don't you have work to do?" and he said, "Oh, yeah, I have 3 jobs!".  Dude, that wasn't what she meant.  He kept trying to talk to us, and whenever we'd stop talking to him, and chat in among ourselves, he would jump into our conversation.  I wanted to slap him, and drag his little behind into the kitchen.  Go make some sushi, or something.  Anyway, we girls decided to go chat outside after we were finished eating (which didn't take long, since we had eaten way to much popcorn).  The moms stayed inside for a little longer, while we just..small talked. I guess.  And watched a youtube video of guys falling in Wal-Mart. Yeah.

This guy was cool.  Flame beard? Totally diggin' it.  I want my guy to have a flame beard.  Cuz Seneca wears a flame beard, flame beards are now cool.  I was really sorry Stupid Snow had him killed....Rotten, stupid, stinkin' President Snow.

Then we went to Dairy Queen. Where I got a Iced Hot Chocolate. Which, dearest readers...is heaven covered chocolate in a cup.  Oh, good.  I probably bottomed out my unhealthy eating for a week.  Then, we girls talked about brothers...iphones...Music...and a whole lot of stuff I wont remember until some random moment in the future.  That is the way my brain processes new information.

Then, it was close to 10, and we went home.  A thoroughly fun afternoon.  The moms, (My Mother, and Mrs. Susan) decided we should do that sort of thing more often.  Like every other month have a girl's night out.  Even if we only go to Dairy Queen and chat.  It would still be fun! And I seriously need to see Emily and Kayli more often.

Anyway, I had a blast.  And it's 11:55, and I'm not tired.  Maybe it is the amounts of sugar, but it is probably my horrid insomnia.  OH! OH! OH!!!! Last night, I could'nt get to sleep, so I turned on my music...nothing was helping. So, I went to youtube, and turned on the POTO song, "Music of the Night".

Which, is becoming my all time favorite Phantom of the Opera song.  I just LOVE the emotion Erik shows.  And how he seems like he is at his most tenderest, weakest, and like he...he...how do I describe it? I dunno. He seems so feeble, and emotional.  I like that.

But, anyway, I turned it on, and was asleep before the song was over.  When I woke up this morning, the importance of that dawned on me.
Here is a conversation between me and my oldest younger brother, Evan.

Me: "Erik sang me to sleep last night!! And it worked!!".
Evan: "What are you talking about?!?!"
Me: I listened to Music of the Night, and it got me to sleep when nothing else could!!"
Evan: O_o.
Me: "Don't you see?!?! 'In sleep he sang to me'....???"
Evan" o_O

My brothers have pretty much decided I'm a raving lunatic not to be annoyed.

Well, goodnight!

Signed with Gold eyeshadow....

-Ashley.

Top 7 myths about Homeschoolin

If you didn't laugh and agree....you're probably public schooled.

I spy bags

Here recently, I've gotten into sewing (can you believe it?!?!), And have been selling my 'Projects'..I spy bags!
In April, at the Marianna arts festival, Mama and my aunt are going to have a booth, and Mama is going to let me sell my bags there, So, in order to do that, I have to make 40....yeah, 40 bags....
I"m not even half way there yet, seeing how I've had a few customs, but I'm doin' good.
I'll show you some of the pictures, not all of them, but my faves.


Front,

Back,

Front,

Back,

Front,

Back,


Front,

Back,


Front,


Back,

Front,

Back,

So, Do you like?


OK, A update about us.....
Lets see, We will be bringing Sarge to his new home today, We planned to keep him, but, He killed a Guinea...a B.I.G "No-No' for any animal, Killing livestock is an in-pardonable sin for our dogs. I'm kinda upset...I like that Puppy.

I'm reading 'To kill a mocking bird' to the boys, and 'Little house in the big woods' to the Girls, both are liking their books!

Oh! I nearly forgot....this link is incredibly neat...it is a live Camera on a Mother Owl, One of her eggs have hatched, We're just waiting on # 2,3,4,and 5 to come...Her name is Molly, and the male is McGee.
And This one is of a Mother Bald eagle, none of her eggs have hatched yet, it is live as well,
This is in a pond, it is live too,
This one is of a Squirrel...it is NOT live, but INCREDIBLY funny!!
This one is of a African water hole, to see animals, you've got to stay up late....not TOO late, just 'till like 9 O'clock...or 10.
Another Water hole....this one has less action.
so, these are pretty neat.

OK,. gotta go now, Bye!