Band Geek Book Lovers?

Well since this week (well tomorrow) band camp starts for me and my clarinet (her name is clari 1, I have two and the second is clari 2, yes I name them! I mean I named my nook too!). And unlike movies and tv show marching bands, we don't go away, we stay at are comfy football practice field (full of ditches) and are non air conditioned school (but the band room is but last Thursday it was broken...). So I'm going to be doing some band geeky type things on the blog. Maybe ranting about how hot it is or how I love my clarinets. Maybe even tell you how I started playing clarinet who knows! But I have a question for all of you! Are you a Band Geek Book Lover!?

In my last award I mentioned that I'm now the clarinet section leader and lieutenant field major. And a lot of you responded that you played an instrument too! So I was wondering how many of us Band Geek Book Lovers are out there?


So Leave a comment, saying your name, instrument you played (or play) and if you had/have a position then included that too. Maybe a cool funny memory too!


I'm not just saying Band members can answer, if you played piano, were a drummer in a garage band or guitarist or something else list it. Even if it's the bango like my uncle used to play (I'm being serious I'm not kidding! He did!). And the Recorder counts!

Maybe we can make a little group and talk about old or new band memories or something?

Here's my answer:

Name: Andrea

Instrument: Clarinet (I can play flute a little bit too.)

Position: Concert Mistress, Clarinet Section Leader, and Lieutenant Field Major

Cool/Funny Memory: Last year we got new marching band uniforms, and they have mirrors and sparkles on them. Before that the Colorguard (Flag Twirlers to some, my sister will kill me for saying that!) had sparkles on their uniforms, and came up with the sparkle dance. Where they would shake and the light would reflect all over the place. With their new uniforms they didn't have sparkles. We did though and started doing the sparkle dance! Okay I suck at retelling memories. It's funny to me. We also tried blinding the football team with the mirrors, we don't really like are football team (well my friends don't). And also are mirrors come off some times... so that equals them on the field.

Questionnaire & Blog Anniversary

(That Cake Looks Yummy!)
So today is my 7 month Blog Anniversary. And I've made a lot of leaps and jumps over the last few months. I'm so happy that I'm up to 150 followers, and I appreciate you all! And you'll have a chance to win something small later today. But I also want to thank everyone of you for your thoughtful comments and entering into my contests and such. And I want to repay that to you by making the blog more accessible. So if you could take this little Questionnaire, it shouldn't take more than 3 minutes, I think it'll help make the blog better for all of you!

Questionnaire Closed


Thanks!
And stay tune for the little giveaway later on.

What Should I Read this Summer? Results.

So the the results are in on what I'm going to read this summer! And guess what we have a tie in the second book!

But first the first book I'm going to read is... 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

I tried reading this last summer but I didn't have the motivation to try and finish it so I'm going to need a cheering section on this one! :)

Next the second book I can choose tied in the poll! And it was between:

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

and

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

So I'm going to do an executive decision and choose Wuthering Heights because I've been wanting to read this story for awhile. And I'll possibly pick The Lovely Bones up this summer.

So thank you too all that voted! The final results are below.

The Color Purple	5 (27%)
Pride and Prejudice	8 (44%)
Wuthering Heights	7 (38%)
Their Eyes Were Watching God	3 (16%)
The Kite Runner	4 (22%)
The Lovely Bones	7 (38%)
The Secret Life of Bees	5 (27%)
A Thousand Splendid Suns	4 (22%)
Rosencrantz and Guilfenstern are Dead	1 (5%)

What Should I Read this Summer?

Reading. It's a big part of my school life, and my own private life. But when summer break comes along so does the school summer assignments! Yayaya. Boooooo!!!!

Taking AP classes this coming year means I have summer reading like usual. So I want your opinions on which books I should read for my English assignment. I'm required to read Hamlet by Shakespeare, but of coarse so is most other kids in every school. But then I get to choose two books from this list (I took some books off I'm not interested in):

• The Color Purple by Alice Walker
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
• Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zord Neale Hurston
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
• The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
• The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
• A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
• Rosencrantz and Guilfenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard (Hamlet play off)

My plan was to get your opinions, and see which ones you like the most, with the poll on the side bar over there--------> (THE POLL IS NOW CLOSED.)


I already went through and got rid of the books I don't think I'll get through and read peacefully, but that still leaves plenty more! So help me out, the top two books might just be the two I'm going to read. Even though I'm seriously wanting to read Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, so it might just be the first book on the list.


I'm going to close the poll on June 22nd, so I have time to get the book and do the massive amount of motif work and such before September.


Remember all books I read for school are still reviews here at LWS!
So what will it hurt if you help a girl out!

Okay I'm Depressed Now

Okay so I never really talk about shows I watch, but with everyone being depressed that "Lost" ended I figured well I want to complain.

Okay there are always shows I get really into and then they are canceled! I mean I really really like them, I'll DVR the episodes or watch them when their on, but this just depresses me.

The Victims of these random cancelations for me back in like '07 with the writer's strike commotion were...

"Pushing Daisies"

(This was the most awesome creative show ever and why ABC canceled it I still have no clue.)

&

"Moonlight"

(OMG Hot Vampires, this is when I was in my vampire phase. I understand he was too Edwardy but back then I loved Vampires more than anything... Plus the show was awesome to watch action wise.)

I loved both of these shows I tuned in every Wednesday and Friday night just to watch the characters for non-apparent reasons (their above). So when they went an canceled them I was really mad. I mean I'm even in a group to save "Pushing Daisies", seriously.

But now I find out that ABC Family channel is canceling "10 Things I Hate About You" and tonight is the last episode. I mean it has its flaws, but it's still enjoyable to watch. I love love love the movie and when they came out with the series I was all yes, yah, whoa! And now after two seasons its canceled. I mean I love this show. Why ABC Family WHY?

Sorry.... this is totally random. And I'm ranting. But ABC Family has a tendency to do this to me. First they put "Wildfire" on a break and then brought it back and after four seasons it ended. I loved that show, it was my what would you say guilty pleasure. And then they canceled "Falcon Beach" after two seasons, yes it was a drama filled show but it was funny to watch. And then there's "Greek" which they moved to a later time which I can't stay up till, unless I want to be a grumpy head for school in the morning. Oh and then there's "Kyle XY" which I loved and that ended to soon for my tastes.  To add to the list: "Ruby & The Rockits" (I watched it occasionally), "Roommates" (Was Hilarious) and now "10 things I hate About You". ABC Family makes me sad, especially when some of their shows were really funny, good, romantic, and just all together hilarious. Most the time their canceled for viewer ship, but if the show isn't given enough time it won't get it.

So what do you think?

Now off to write some posts, this I just needed to get out of my system.

Names.

Names.

So the new list of popular baby names in the USA came out for the end of 2009 last week (See it here). And I think we should analyze it, and see how many in the top ten for both boy and girls actually come from the top ten popular young adult books of 2008 & 2009 from ALA (2008 List, 2009 List). Seeing as what parents read, is what parents name apparently.

Warning it's a very long post, and may or may not fail in the end.

---

So First the Female Top 10 Babies Names of 2010:

1. Isabella~ 22,067 Births

2. Emma~ 17,716 Births

3. Olivia~17,246 Births

4. Sophia~ 16,743 Births

5. Ava~ 15,730 Births

6. Emily~ 15,204 Births

7. Madison~ 15,097 Births

8. Abigail~ 14,232 Births

9. Chloe~ 11,785 Births

10. Mia~ 11,319 Births

---

Top 10 Male Babies Names of 2010:

1. Jacob~ 20,858 Births

2. Ethan~ 19,664 Births

3. Michael~ 18,677 Births

4. Alexander~ 18,025 Births

5. William~ 17,696 Births

6. Joshua~ 17,418 Births

7. Daniel~ 17,336 Births

8. Jayden~ 17,082 Births

9. Noah~ 17,061 Births

10. Anthony~ 16,139 Births

---

Top Ten YA Books of 2008:

(All the names are from the book summaries, or because I know the book I listed more)

1. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

• Main Character Names- Isabella aka Bella, Edward, Jacob, Alice, etc. we know them.
• Name on the List?-  Isabella, Jacob
• What I Think- Twilight Craze. All I'm going to say. The Yahoo article I read, said Isabella hit the top 10 in 2004, a year before Twilight was released.  Jacob has also held the top of the male babies list for 11 years, which isn't surprising since I know about 5 different Jacobs at my school. Even the name Cullen is on the rise? Seriously, I'm not kidding, See the Yahoo article here.

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

• Main Character Names- Harry, Hermione, Ron, Severus, Fred, George, Ginny, etc.
• Name on the List?-  NONE
• What I Think- Meany parents, who wouldn't want to name their kid Severus? Or Harry. I mean it's one of the greatest series ever! ;)

3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

• Main Character Name- Greg...
• Name on the List?-  NO
• What I Think- Haven't read, this even though one of my siblings has. I'm wondering why its on the top Teen book list from ALA though? Because I thought it was for like younger kids, pre-teen and younger... I'll have to go find them and see.

4. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

• Main Character Names- Rose, Dimitri, Lissa...
• Names on the List?-  NONE
• What I Think- Love, Love this series. And I love the name Rose.

5. Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson

• Main Character Names- Maximum, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman, Angel...
• Names on the List?-  NONE
• What I Think- Not sure about this one again, I'll have to say I don't know why any of those names would be on the list except maybe Angel.

6. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

• Main Character Names- Clary, Jace, Simon
• Names on the List?-  NONE
• What I Think- Haven't read this yet, and Aly & Ky have been yelling at me to forever, I love the name Clary though it rolls off you tongue.

7. The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray

• Main Character Names- Gemma, Ann, Felicity, Pippa...
• Names on the List?-  NONE
• What I Think- Went on my to e-read buy list when I researched it. I like the name Ann and Gemma.

8. Extras by Scott Westerfield

• Main Character Name- Aya...
• Name on the List?-  NO
• What I Think- Ava (#5) and Aya, rhyme though!

9. Before I Die by Jenny Downham

• Main Character Name- Tessa...
• Name on the List?-  NO
• What I Think- I like the name Tessa, it might be my best friends new nickname.

10. Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

• Main Character Names- Tyler, Bethany...
• Names on the List?-  NONE
• What I Think- I like the name Bethany, but not Tyler. Neither of them are on the list though.

---

Top Ten YA Books of 2009:

1. Paper Towns by John Green

• Main Character Names- Quentin, Margo
• Names on the List?-  NONE
• What I Think- Both are unique so I doubt they would be on there.

2. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

• Same as Above.

3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

• Main Character Names- Katniss, Peeta, Gale, Prim
• Names on the List?-  NONE
• What I Think- These are really names that might catch on maybe? I like the name Prim.

4. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

• Same as Above.

5. Identical by Ellen Hopkins

• Main Character Names- Kaeleigh, Raeanne
• Names on the List?-  NONE
• What I Think- Their special again....

6. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

• Main Character Names- Bod, Jack...
• Names on the List?-  NONE
• What I Think- I never heard of this book before. I guess Jack is common though.

7. Wake by Lisa McMann

• Main Character Names- Janie, Cabel...
• Names on the List?-  NONE
• What I Think- I like these names, and this story is on my wish list.

8. Untamed by P.C. & Kristin Cast

• Main Character Names- Zoey, James...
• Names on the List?-  NONE
• What I Think- James is pretty popular, and I love the name Zoey, though.

9. The Disreputable History of Grankie Landau-Banks  by E. Lockhart

• Main Character Names- Frankie, Matthew, Trish...
• Names on the List?-  NONE
• What I Think- Matthew, is really popular (cough I know like a zillion), and Trish is a cool name. Even though I've never heard of the book before.

10. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

• Main Character Names- Katsa, Po
• Names on the List?-  NONE
• What I Think- Love these two characters, but I neither have their names on the list, pout.

---

So Not many books have their main characters names on the top ten, but it proves the point of the Yahoo Article with Jacob and Isabella. Yet, doesn't really prove my point. But how many parents do you think read baby books? Their books, you get names from them, so ya you still get your baby names from books.


Another point to be made is that authors like to make up character names or use ones that haven't been used in centuries. I mean I hadn't heard of the name Po or Katsa, before reading Graceling, or Katniss or Peeta before reading The Hunger Games. Had you? Probably not. Authors in my opinion when they use unique or special names make their stories interesting, maybe its something I should ask them when I interview them to see if they do it on purpose.

---

I guess I should share my favorite baby names with you?
For girls:
Madeline Theresa Ann
Elizabeth Marie Ann
Lynette Jade
Lavinia (or Laviana)
For guys:
Rhys Alexander Andrew
Ceri
Oskan
Finn


Some of those are from books, Rhys especially. And others from searches when I'm trying to find character names for stories. And Finn isn't because of Glee its because of one of Kate Brian's books, Megan Meade's... you know the title.


The highest my name, Andrea, has ever ranked in the last 100 years is 23rd and that was in 1978. And my name is kinda family related so I appreciate it.


This post was inspired by the Yahoo News article: Name that Baby: Mom & Dad Choose Isabella, Jacob.

(^I think she wants her name to be special.)

What do you think?

Do you think if you had a choice would you want a special name, or a popular name?


(all photos are from Google images)

Cutting....(Don't think about this Title)

Okay so this post is almost a discussion or a rant post. 

Acouple days ago when I woke up and check online for updates, I heard one of the marching bands in my county was cut, completely. I knew this was coming for some of the smaller bands in the county (my band is the largest), and had already happened to one other band. But they are still together and going to play home games instead of away games and have to back out of all competitions. Basically becoming a Pep Band.

As many of you know I live in New Jersey, you would have found that out if you read my interview with Charlotte over at The Book on the Hill (see it here). And due to the recent education budget cuts, schools have sub-come to cutting their music programs, freshman teams, field trips, etc. etc. I know this is the case in many schools around the country. But what upsets me the most is that they are cutting the marching bands, bands that mostly self support there selves through their Band Booster programs. Bands that fund raise for everything they do.

My Marching Band hasn't been effected, having one of the best programs and being largest in the county, and the fact we win more competitions than the football team, has kept us safe. Plus the fact are parents raise the money for the band and pay for are activities. For now we are safe.


My band director told us that nothing has changed in are program. I'm actively involved in almost every band I can be in including Woodwind Ensemble, Marching Band and Concert Band. We have an award winning band and choir at my school and if they dare take away any of my band programs I might just cry or protest or do something. I'm serious I will cry. Band has been my life for 8 years now (I'm actually tearing up now) and is my way to be with my friends and family (I mean I rooked my sister and brother into it). Band means more than anything to me, and the fact they are cutting bands is hitting a nerve.


Band for me is my life. When your a band kid, your friends are mostly all in band. And it becomes your life for 4months or more. Band is what some kids live for. We don't just get classified as Band Geeks for nothing. Band is life and life is important.


There are proven facts that kids involved in Bands, Choirs and Drama Clubs, are better off. Here's a list of some fact from supportmusic.com and their pdf file on the subject:

~Students who participate in school band or orchestra have the lowest levels of current and lifelong use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs among any group in our society

~High school music students have been shown to hold higher grade point averages (GPA) than non-musicians in the same school.

~78% of Americans feel learning a musical instrument helps students perform better in other subjects.

~With music in schools, students connect to each other better—greater camaraderie, fewer fights, less racism and reduced use of hurtful sarcasm

~The College Entrance Examination Board found that students in music appreciation scored 63 points          higher on verbal and 44 points higher on math than students with no arts participation.

My thing with this whole crisis, is why are they cutting programs, that help students and kids. Programs that allow students to excel. Please if you want voice your opinions in the comment section.

Theses are some great links to a great organizations that are helping save music education and funds in schools:

http://www.vh1savethemusic.com/

http://www.supportmusic.com/

http://www.musicfriends.org/

http://www.yea.org/

The National Association for Music Education

Please Voice Your Opinion!

If stuff like this is happening in your school programs I'd like to hear what your doing to save it.

Just remember this is the case of bands around me, and I'm only trying to spread the word about what is happening to the programs in New Jersey. I don't live in other states so I don't know whats happening there. Were all having economic trouble now, but doing this doesn't seem fair.

Pants

So I feel like I need to do a random post of the week. And Saturday seem's like a prime opportunity for it, since I don't usually post on Saturday's


So this week's topic is on boys and their pants. I'm sorry this is weird but it's inspired by Tera Lynn Child's post on the topic last Saturday. Check it out here!


Tera makes a great point in this post about boys and their boxers or tightie whities showing below their pants. I'm sorry male followers that do this but this annoys the heck out of me (do I have any male followers? If I do shout out to you! Because your cool for following my blog. Not that the girls aren't either.). Especially at my school were the girls aren't allowed to wear skirts or shorts shorter than their knees, even with leggings. While the boys can show the whole school their boxers.


Yes that's right they can show the school their boxers and the girls can't show a little leg!!! While the boys show the opposite spectrum of the legs easily with their pants hanging off their butts.


Okay back on topic, Tera mentions that:

When the zombie apocalypse comes, boys with their pants below their butts will be eaten first.

I completely agree with her on this one. Because if zombies do come the boys will be unable to run, for their pants will be falling down every five seconds. Now, what I don't believe is that these "males" or "boys" wear belts with their pants too! So loose that they fall down still. Seriously, belts were made for a reason use them!!!!


I'm sorry everyone this is just really random and in away a rant, not blog related at all.

Bending. Breaking. Flexing.

So you might be asking yourself what the heck I mean by Bending. Breaking. Flexing. I mean Yoga. Yoga is something I started last week during the massive snow storm that attacked the North East, USA. I had tried doing it before, but I didn't understand it and wasn't motivated enough.


Now I have motivation!


I've been reading Evan Cooper's book Um, Like...Om: A Girl Goddess's Guide to Yoga. Its amazing and inspirational. I love this book. Seriously I feel so much better about myself now and I feel so much better (even though I'm sore, but I'm blaming that on gym class). This book includes really great tips on how to loose some weight, but also keep your mind, body and heart in shape. I really like the way its set up giving you inspiration and then moves to work on. The book has a lot of moves and then explains them simple and in a way you understand it, so it makes it fun.


So the real point in this post is for me to talk about this habit I've slowly developed over the past week and give you a glimpse into my life.


What I think yoga does for me is make me calmer and is really helping me stretch more and become flexible. Yoga is really amazing I think, any one can do it the fat, skinny, tall, short, old and young. Its beneficial for everyone, including me.


After coming home from the day of school and other stuff (which right now is drama club), I'm either extremely hyper or tired or stressed. Yoga helps me detox and awaken myself. 


So here's what I do before I go to sleep:
1. Get ready for school the next day (AKA, put all my books and other stuff away so I don't stare at it while doing yoga).
2. I lay out my yoga mat. And my books (Um like...Om and A Girl's Guide to Yoga (Which has the same stuff as the other one just with better pictures)).
3. I start doing yoga, but meditating and then move into some stretching moves and then harder.


That's about it with that part, I figured I'd share that with you.


Meditating isn't so easy as you think though. Right now I'm trying to do something called Projection Meditation which is where you think and focus on a place and smell, see (with your eyes closed), and feel, envisioning the place. I've tired to create a place in my world. 


I'll give you a little description.


It's a place filled with flower (roses) and is like one of those old gardens from like 1800s history with tall walls and vines (like the one that is in The Morning Gift by Eva Ibboston) and also a small water fountain. I always try putting myself in there so I feel it, so I dress myself to to fit the century long flowing dress with a corset bodice. I always change the season for some reason, one day it was spring the other winter, fall and summer. I don't know why probably it changes with my mood.


I should probably shut up now and just ask what I want to ask you the readers (which by the way I'm so thankful for, because then I'd feel like I was talking to myself). 

Would you give yoga a chance?

If you do yoga what's your favorite pose (and mantra)?

Any tips for a beginner would be appreciated!

(This is my yoga stuff.)

To Read and Excerpt of Evan Cooper book click here.

And here's a link to Evan Cooper's Site.

Now for the confession this post isn't just some random one but for the BIP 2010 Project. The idea is to come up with an interesting title that will get readers reading your posts. I think mines okay not the best but alright.