Now we are drawing to a close of yet another year. For me, this is a particularly significant “end and beginning”. As 2011 concludes and 2012 starts, some things in my life are ending and others just starting. First, in January I will be turning 18. Although at first this really won’t make that much of a change, I will technically no longer be a minor and will be expected to be a responsible adult. (Luckily, I don’t think I’ll have any problem with that.) In the Spring I will be graduating and my high school career will come to an end. However I will also be starting fresh at a new university in the fall and am open to all of the new experiences I will have. As a proper way to end the year, I will share with you some of the fun things I will remember:

The Zodiac

The Zodiac Trip. Last Spring I got to sail around the San Juans on the largest working mainsail on the West Coast. The Zodiac is now officially docked in Bellingham, and we’re happy it calls Bellingham it’s home. Through Squalicum, a group of about 30 students take a weekend to work the sails and learn about the boat. We all took different stations learning about the various responsibilities including navigation and being at the bow and helm. Other than that, it was an opportunity to relax out at sea after stressful AP tests, and enjoy time with friends. It was a blast!

Finishing my Culminating Project. In May, I was ahead of the game and completed my senior project as a junior. I volunteered in the Learning Center (where I normally work) and tutored students in math. I felt very accomplished to get it done so early. Now I can relax as the rest of my classmates work diligently on their own projects.

Working on our puzzle

The summer of 2011 was a ton of fun. In it, I got to take a train down to Seattle for the day, see a Rush concert, do a lot of Zumba with Danielle and Sbeydy, receive postcards from Germany, read a lot, and relax. I also got to spend quite a bit of time with Ryan’s family both in Oregon and Birch Bay. There were many jokes and bike rides, and some Huard-y adventures. I even tried water skiing! Knowing I’m into astronomy, they also made a point to go to an observatory. They are a very fun group of people and the fact that I was welcome to join them made me feel included and well liked. (and it’s good they like me, because I like them a lot too!)

Ryan and I overlooking Hanalei

And of course, we like Ryan. So! In the beginning of November we were able to take him along on a trip to Kauai. It was the first gathering of the wonderful Happy Heretics! It was great fun with everyone there, and I really look forward to being able to go something like that again.

This year I also got to participate in WIBC. (Western International Band Clinic) For a weekend (three days) over 600 high school musicians get together and are a part of four different bands; Thunderbird, Firebird, Sunbird, and Phoenix. I, along with four other friends from band, got to be a part of this huge production. We rehearsed 5 different songs under very good conductors and also got to play a piece with a guest artist. This year it was a fantastic trumpet player, Allen Vizzutti. Two of the songs we performed were written by the conductors we got to work with. It was a great experience.

Navy Commodores

Also, in the evenings there were two concerts we were able to attend. We heard some interesting pieces performed such as one with movements for each of the 13 stages as Jesus was hung on the cross. It was rather haunting. (Every time he fell, the music made you jump in your seat) The most exciting concert was the Navy Commodores. They are the Navy’s jazz band and they were Great! It was very entertaining to watch them and they even worked with our guest artist and played a few tunes with him. It was fabulous. One of mine and my friend Danielle’s favorite parts was to see two big Navy men pull out piccolos to do the piccolo duet in a jazz rendition of The Stars and Stripes Forever. It was a very memorable evening.

Near the end of the year, I spent a lot of my time working on college applications, and while this my not be a highlight, it is kind of a big deal. I was happy to finish them all before December and have heard from them all except for UW (of course…). I’ve been accepted into WWU, WSU, Oregon State and Northern Arizona. It’s pretty cool to have so many options. I’m leaning towards Western. It’s a good school, especially if am I going into teaching, and has many opportunities for study abroad. It’s also a good size, small enough you can be involved in your classes and potentially later on, research, yet it’s not too small.

Well, there for have it. A summation of my 2011. I look forward to 2012 a lot. I will be getting to graduate, enjoy the fun events in my last year of high school, and travel to Washington D.C. with the band. There will be a lot of changes in 2012 and I’m planning on just enjoying my time and embracing what’s new to come. It should be great!

How was your 2011? What are you looking forward to in 2012?

First of all I would like to point out that my last post was number 314. It should have been about pi. Oh well.

And now to the real point of my post.

This afternoon my mother and I took a day trip up to Vancouver, B.C. We took the opportunity to have High Tea at the Secret Garden Tea Co. Upon first arriving, we took in the cozy atmosphere created by warm lighting and soft music playing. We were given a large list of different teas to choose from. My mom and I both decided on the “Secret Garden Secret”. This tea was vanilla with a ‘secret’ in it. It was kind of fruity.

They soon brought us our tea and asked if we had any eating preferences. They were more than willing to make sure that everything they brought was suitable for you. In efforts to supply me with something other than turkey, they used tuna. (unfortunately, I’d rather have turkey than tuna, but they were so helpful I didn’t want to complain. My mom enjoyed the tuna ones as well. )

The first tier of our treats were many savory bites… mini sandwiches made with croissants, tiny ham and cheese sandwiches and cute rolled egg salad sandwiches. The second tier had cream and jam with cranberry muffins and scones. To top it off, the third tier had lemon tarts, a gingerbread and mango cake, and a chocolate mousse on top of a chocolate cookie.

Every bite was delicious! You know, even though they are so small of treats, when you eat it all, it’s quite filling. Along with enjoying all of these delectable snacks, I had a lovely time chatting and spending time with my mom. ‘Twas an excellent day!

Mini, or as Samwise has named it, Adorable, is my new laptop. My old Dell was reaching the end of it’s life, after at least 6 years of dutiful service to both my mom and I. I was in need a of replacement and really wanted a small computer that I would be able to take with me if I wanted or needed to use it somewhere other than my house.

Acer Aspire Timeline

Mini is an Acer Aspire Timeline. So far, I love it. At only 11”, it’s lightweight, quiet, and fast. It stays a good temperature, as opposed to my old computer that would get very very warm. It has a long battery life and even when it’s plugged in the cord is small and doesn’t get in the way.

Oh, how I love my new little computer.   Thanks muchly to my mother for finding such a great one, and getting it in all working order for me.

Are you excited about anything you got for Christmas?