Bet on it

I went for a mile and a half run yesterday.

My muscles hurt.

Haha, I know what you're thinking--wimp!

But cut me a little slack...it's been aging since I've been running. And then when I do go running, I do it like once and then don't do it again for a few months.

Wanna know a little secret?

Oh, I knew you would!

Volleyball season starts in just over a month. I am NOT in shape. I'm not overweight, I'm actually pretty slim and the right weight for being 5'8", but I'm not very fit right now. This is proved by how tired I am today after last night's run.

So here's what I'm gonna do about this. I believe running, as will any other form of exercise, help me during volleyball. And I've got one month to get one shape, so why not get started? :)

Caroline's list for getting in shape

1. Run at least three times a week. I'd like to do it four times, but my mom and I are going to work out a schedule for which days I should run and which I should walk.

2. Upper-arm strength. I think part of the reason my over-hand serves don't go over the net is because I don't have enough power in my upper arms. I'd like to change this by doing ten push-ups each night, and gradually working my way up to more.

3. Crunches. It would would be nice to have my middle nice and firm.

4. Eat. Healthier.

Bleh.

I'm not a healthy eater.

But it's worth it to become a better volleyball player.

5. Practice for at least half an hour outside each day with my volleyball. This includes setting (hitting the ball off your fingertips), passing (hitting the ball on your forearms), hitting and over-hand serving (slamming the ball with the palm of your hand), and under-hand serving (bending down when you serve the ball and hitting it from the front of your hand; this is the serve I use during games, since my over-hand serves still can't get over the net.)

I can't count how many times I've said, I'm gonna exercise! I'm gonna get in shape! I'm going to eat healthier, even though I've said this five hundred times and I never do it! Well, not this time. I realize what a hollow promise that sounds like, but this is something I really want to devote myself to and get done. It's not going to be easy, but I'll be in shape for volleyball season and beyond, and that will be my reward. :)

See number eight? My head is right next to her, smiling.

Oh yeah.

Volleyball.

It's coming.

xoxo,
your obsessed vb player

Random ramblings and photography challenges

Good afternoon, my friends! Today started out incredibly dreary, so much so that I couldn't believe it was 8:30 when I looked at my clock--it felt like the middle of the night. It does not help that I am in no way a morning person. I wish I was. I wish I could jump up and greet the day and be full of energy and pep at 6:30 AM. But 6:30 AM is not my friend. I'm so a nightowl; I didn't go to bed until 11:15 last night. If I go to bed this late now, what will my bedtime be like during Nano?!

Oh, and some exciting-ness (don't tell me that's not a word)--tonight is tournament night! I'm very excited and can only hope the Cornhuskers do well. Not like last year. My old team, the Yellow Jackets, was eliminated in round 1. I don't want to "jinx" myself, you know, but I have high hopes. :) Wish us luck! (figuratively speaking, since I don't believe in luck/karma/superstition.)

Now onto what this post was originally supposed to be about.:)

The lovely Carlotta at Pastor Girl's Ponderings is hosting a photography contest with the theme "color". Check it out by clicking on the button above.
Color, I wondered? Hmm. I immediately thought of these photos I took a few months back of this...orchid/hisbiscus/whatchamacallit. I think I used a flash on it, but I hope that doesn't deter from the quality of the picture...
I love the eye-popping orange and passionate pink in this photo, and how bright it all is.


And secondly...

Allie and Amy's contest with the theme "eyes". I instantly knew which picture I was going to enter.

Doesn't Katelyn have beautiful eyes? :)

And there you go...photography for the day.

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I'm thinking of writing a Q&A post soon. Would any of you be interested in that? I know I would! Sometimes I run out of ideas to write about other than my writing and photography, and I want to know what you don't know...my favorite actor (*cough* I'm sure you already know that) and my favorite...um...why is this so hard? Well, like I said, you ask the questions, because I can't think of them.

But not on this post! This is not a Q&A post--I just want to see if you'd like to do that.

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I have a slight dilemma. If you would kindly glance to my sidebar and look at the followers gadget, you'll see I'm only 6 followers away from 100 (wha...what?! *faints in shock*). And I was getting pretty excited thinking about hosting a giveaway. A really big giveaway. Three weeks long with an event each week. But now, since Nano is...*counts on fingers* 5-6 days away, I'm afraid I won't have nearly enough time to be hosting a giveaway and judging various entries during November. Heck, I'm swamped as it is. Well, I mean, school is my number 1 priority in Nov., and after that, writing. I'm doubting whether or not I can take it all on (I'm still gonna go for it.) So obviously, I won't have any time to be hosting something.
I'm not sure why I said all this. Maybe to tell the person who first happens across my blog, decides to follow, and see that the followers list is at 99, to bookmark my page and follow me on December 1st. I dunno. What think you?
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Alright, I'm done. Have a happy day, my lovelies, and don't forget to think of the Cornhuskers this evening!

Ain't them red jerseys snazzy?

{all volleyball photos by my sister.}

farväl, mitt folk!
(we have a recent obsession with the Swedish language. Don't ask why.)

In which I chatter happily about something near and dear to my heart

OH YES! You may laugh about our name (as I did) but you can't laugh about our team! The Cornhuskers brought down the house tonight!!! In each game we started out several points behind but managed to pull ourselves together and "come back from the grave" as my coach put it. Do you ever have those times, if you play sports, when you just know that you're 'in it'? During practice tonight I felt I was diving for more things, getting under things, getting it to my setter (volleyball language: person in front middle and one of the most important players) and all of me just felt like I had....I can't explain it. Enthusiasm? Team spirit? I know the word I'm looking for...some nights I just feel like I'm playing but I'm not doing my best and playing hard and bringing a fight to the other team. But tonight, I had something--the will to fight, play, and win--which we did. And, it was the last game of the season. Way to end the season, right? To top it off, I was the last player to serve for my team, and I didn't miss my serve. The girl on the other side served next, missed it, and the rest is history.

What makes a sweet victory even sweeter is that my coach overheard the other team saying they were going to "kick our butts". Sure. We kicked theirs.

Ok, ok, I don't mean to sound braggy. I'll stop. But we're number three in the overall standings in the league (there are six teams in the league) and I think we'll be going to the tournament.

Oh, happy. :)

*does a little dance of joy*
*bows*
*runs off stage*

Well, as long as I'm here, I might talk a little more about this sport!

I started two years ago at a volleyball day-summer camp. It was fun, I got to do it with my friends, and it got me started on the basics (oh, and were they basic. I was terrible then.) In the fall, two sisters from my church, who played volleyball in college, put together a homeschool girls team and we practiced every Friday. Gosh, I loved that team:). I had an awesome time there and it really gave me a boost into volleyball. Sadly, even good things must come to an end. The next year I moved far, far away, and in the winter/early spring, I went once a month to a scrimmage at a local church. I could've joined the team there, but instead went with playing on the town's league. And boy, am I glad I did! I'm nearing the end of my second season and I can honestly say my two seasons with these teams have been amazing. I had the most fantastic coaches last spring (and a more intimidating name: the Yellow Jackets. We had awesome yellow jerseys) and great teammates.

But could it be that this season has been possibly more amazing? I have another coach that I absolutely love and there's so much team spirit between the girls. I feel loved on this team, and I love my teammates. I love when people cheer my name when I go up to serve. I love how my teammates come and give me highfives and consolation when my hit messes up. I love cheering on my teammates when they serve. And I love the intensity of the court when that ball is in the air, and you have no idea where it's going to land, but you hope that by goodness, it isn't your side.

My favorite position used to be setter, but I'm thinking to change that. I'm not built to be a setter (apparently 5 feet 8 inches is not the best height for that--setters are usually short) but my coach seems to see me as a hitter (also called spiker; spikers stand to the left or right of the setter and are the ones who jump and hit it with a flat hand) and I'm beginning to see myself as one, too. I have to work on my spike--a lot. I'm still scared of it; scared that it'll go into the net, that it'll go out on the other side of the court, that I'll miss the ball altogether. (which has happened, so I wouldn't put it past myself for me to do something like that during a game)

Oh, and my sister got some pictures of me tonight, so I shall upload those in the next post for your enjoyment:).

I think I'm done! Thanks for listening to me chatter on about my favorite sport. I'm really serious about playing in college (I'd like to get either a volleyball or a writing scholarship) and be a coach when I'm older. I get happy just thinking about volleyball.

Wow, I'm hopeless.

HELLO WORLD!

'Ello, friends! I'm back. And because I'm suffering from lack of inspiration, I'm just gonna go random. Random is good, right?;)

First 0ff, I stole Eldarwen's tag.





1. What was the most embarrassing thing you've ever done in public?

Um, I don't know...?

2. Would you rather have a hot dog, or hamburger?

Hamburger. I no longer trust hotdogs. Because I do not know what is in them.

3. Do you like to sing?

Um, with a group, yes. On my own? No way. I have a horrible voice. I'll only sing if there is NOBODY else in the house.

4. What is currently your favorite song?

Aw geez! That's tough. I'll probably have to go with "Our Song" by Taylor Swift.

5. Have you ever eaten sea weed?

YES!!!! And I didn't like it:(

6. Do you play any sports? If so, what sports do you play?

You know I do! I play volleyball and am in love with the entire game. I can't wait till the start of the fall season. I hope to make the gold league (the highest level before college volleyball) next spring:).

7. Can you whistle?

You know I can.

8. What would you say is your best talent?

Probably...writing. I'm still extremely amateur at photography. Oh, and drawing. I just finished my Robin Hood poster, did you hear? I've got Robin in the middle and Marian next to him and Will above her and Much next to him and Allan below him and Djaq below him. It's soooo cool!!!!

9. Rain or shine?

Shine. Rain depresses me. (most of the time)

10. Inside or outside?

Outside, except when it's stinking hot or freezing cold.


I award anyone who hasn't done this:). Oh wait, I need to make up questions! Here I go:

1. What is your favorite quote from a book?

2. If you could live in any book, which would it be?

3. What are your favorite song lyrics?

4. Winter or summer?

5. Think fast: Paris or Rome?

6. Chocolate or lollipop?

7. Country or pop?

8. Think fast: Artemis Fowl or Percy Jackson?

9. Model or photographer?

10. Amusement park or water park?

Just cause I'm so awesome, I'm gonna answer them myself:).

1. Ani watched the fire turn the hearthstones gold. "Maybe I did. Maybe I hoped I'd return home someday and people would say, we were wrong about her. And they'd realize I'm special and beautiful and powerful and all that." --The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (that's only one of many)

2. Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. Camp Half-blood sounds sooooo amazing!!!! Archery practice, rock walls with lava beneath, the fencing arena, and they have a VOLLEYBALL net!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3. I tried to be perfect But nothing was worth it I don’t believe it makes me real I thought it’d be easy But no one believes me I meant all the things I said
--Pieces by Sum 41 (one of my favoriteist songs ever)
(again, only one of many)

4. SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5. Don't make think like that!!! Who made up these stupid questions? Oh, right...I did. BOTH.

6. Chocolate. I don't like lollipops. (kudos to whoever gets that quote first. Golden Eagle...)

7. Pop. Country can drive me crazy, most of the time.

8. OOOOHHHH!!!!!!!! Why did I do this to myself????!!!!! Well...I'm gonna have to go with Percy Jackson. Sorry, Artemis. You know I love you too.

9. I like to be both!

10. Water park!!! I can go on almost anything there, but not so at amusement parks.


There you are!

Second order of business.



Merlin and Arthur

This ^ ^ could very well become one of my new favorite tv shows. (though not over Robin Hood...never.) It's called Merlin and it's also put out by the BBC. Isn't that amazing? I love BBC. They're epic. I blame Molly and Maxine. See, I got them started on RH, and they get me started on Merlin. I love the main character:). And Arthur, even though he's a jerk.

Third order of business.

Shaynie awarded me! Thank you Shaynie!

The rules:
I have to tell you where I see myself in 10 years and award a few people.

Wow. Ten years from now. I hope to have at least two books published and be a New York Times Best-selling author. Lofty, huh? I'm gonna go for it. Perhaps I'll be married. But I don't want to get married too young, and I don't want to think about children yet;). (i love kids, though, just so there's no confusion.) Part of me wants to have traveled the world, but the other of me is a big home-body.

I award:

Melody
Olive Tree
Memzie
Katelyn
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Besides our wonderful United States (or the country you live in), what other countries do you like? Not just the countries you want to visit, but places that interest, intrigue, and inspire you. (i like that combination of words...) Mine are:

Russia. About a year ago I went through a huge Russian phase and had to read all things Romanav-era (1917). This time period and family fascinated me.

Spain. Spain also happens to be a big influence on my book, Cymbeline. The passion, the vibrancy, the color, the pirates, and especially in the 1700's. Adventure is calling.

Turkey. This stems, again, from Robin Hood. One of my favorite characters, Djaq, is a Saracen (from Turkey). After some time, I mastered her awesome accent (it's fun to do) and just the whole culture of this country fascinates me. The desert, the clothing, the styles, the "look"...

Portugal. This is similiar to Spain--I first became interested when I started writing Cymbeline. Plus, it's not a place you hear a lot about.

How about you?

I love this avatar.




Yeah, it was random, but that's me. Randomness!

Awards?! When did this happen?!

So, I've been awarded! These are my first awards. I feel very honored.

The first is...


The Hands Stained with Ink award from Shaynie. Thank you Shaynie!!!

If you are awarded, here's what you do:
1) Post about the award.
2) Award 3 other people.
3) Answer the tag!

If you could use one word, what would it be? Palindrome. It's my favorite word.


Use one word to describe yourself Hmm... why did you have to make it so hard?! Probably "follower." Or "daughter." Follower and daughter of Jesus Christ!

What is a random prhase you'd like to say right now? "I hate bats. Bats are rats. Rats with wings." --Much, BBC Robin Hood season 1

Think up an absurd title for a book: Cinderella the Gangster. (don't ask... about the way my brain works...)

What is the strangest sentence you can think of? Larry is a big purple people eater.

What do you write? Fantasy. Fairy-talish. Epic-pirate sailing the high seas adventures. Epic, vibrant, bright!

Why do you write it? Do you ask Leonardo Da Vinci why he painted the Mona Lisa? Or Beethoven why he composed music?

If you had a weird disease and could only make one sound over and over, what would it be? HI!!!! (i dunno. i didn't feel like thinking too hard about it.)

So now I award:
Lizzy @Tales of a Godly Maiden
Paige @Pixel Paige
Caroline @The Epic Chronicles

Tonight is my third volleyball game! And I had to go and open my big mouth. At practice on Thursday, after we're all sitting down on the bench, I asked Jen (one of my coaches) who the team captain would be for this game. She paused for a while, looked back at me, and said, "You can be." YEPPP. Real smart of me, huh? Well, at least it doesn't sound too hard. I'll just have to tell my teammates not to expect any rallying from me because I am not a good rallyer! :P

I know I have some other awards, but I can't do them now. So, ciao, bella!