We are Superior

Today was Festival for Inman Orchestra!
This was not a fair or a party or anything like that.
Orchestras from all these different schools in Georgia go to another school to play three prepared pieces for Judges. They then play a sight reading thing. They are graded as follows.


POOR - 4
GOOD - 3
EXCELLENT - 2
SUPERIOR - 1


1, of course is the best. "Superior". Grady got 2 excellents and we were determined to best them!
And we did. Inman Orchestra scored a total of
FOUR STRAIGHT SUPERIORS
This year at Festival.
Congrats Ms. Shields! I'd say you owe us a juice party...

Now, here's a short unveiling of the inner workings of our Festival preparations....
1. PRACTICING
Of course turning in practice records is expected weekly of orchestra students, but this time it is the work that goes into it that counts. If you don't practice, you don't go.
2. TESTING
Ms. Shields tested everyone in groups of 1-3 on passages from the music. She scored you and eliminated the incapable. This resulted in several long periods of sitting around. Most students chose to practice in this time. You go up with your music. She tells you where to play. You play. Not everyone made it, particularly among sixth graders, but a lot of people did.
3. REHEARSALS
Once you pass testing (IF you pass testing) you must attend a ton of rehearsals till 5:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the last three of them mandatory. Ms. Shields would go on long rants to people who left early or didn't come to go to grow club or whatever. Of course, I had to leave at 4:40 to go to AJCO, but Ms. Shields let it slide. We rehearsed in the Band Room and the cafeteria for more space.
4. MS. SHIELDS GOING BALLISTIC
We're too loud... we're uncommitted... we do not attend rehearsals...
Ms. Shields was often provoked by our teenager-y lack of support.
5. THE BOOT
Not sure how many kids were kicked off for missing mandatory rehearsals. Maybe none. Maybe Ms. Shields is that forgiving.
6. THE INSTRUMENTS
Competition over school instruments is fierce in these desperate times! Certain STUPID VIOLIST was irresponsible at every rehearsal, and even on the final date. I can't really blame certain other violist this time, as he doesn't actually have a viola. But someone else better get in shape with his reliability...
7. THE TUNING
Being someone who can tune, I was supposed to... tune. Other kids. But it's so tiring. Because some kids won't have shoulder rests and they have to play it. Some kids' pegs won't turn at all. But I do my best for the good of the community. :)


There's a little... background. Now that we have that covered, what actually happened?

Well, the buses, despite having previously arrived a day early, were an hour and a half late. That meant we had very little time to warm up, but luckily we managed to preform. The buses were hot and crowded, with a Ms. Shields on each bus.
(And yes, having two Ms. Shields talking the same from different directions (and then looking the same when you whirl around) is VERY confusing)
Having the windows open helped, though. It was very nice terrain out the window. We passed the airport and several plains. We also passed the location of my first Allstate audition.
We got at this HUGE intimidating high school. I've seen airports smaller than that high school. And I'm not just talking about the Ithaca airport, which is pretty much smaller than any school you could find in Georgia. It was HUMUNGOUS and very intimidating. When I saw it, I remembered why we were actually there, and I started getting just a little physically nervous. We were led by some of the high school orchestra students there to a warm - up room, where I helped tune.
Then we were led with all our stuff to the auditorium, where I got a slightly deja vu-ish feeling because it somewhat resembled the auditorium at Grady (where Morningside had its talent show). We had three judges sitting at podiums in the back. Then a bunch of guests were in a back wing. Ms. Shields 2 sat near the front.
So we played. Improvada, Canyon Sunset, and Conquistador. The judges wrote notes and talked commentary into little microphones. We'll get the recordings later. We couldn't actually hear them at the time, of course. They were given time to finish up between each piece. One of our judges was Richard Prior, the conductor of EYSO (joint with AJCO). The other two were women.
Then we left and we were SO HUNGRY but we had to go to sight reading.
Sight reading was in a room near our warm-up room. We came in. The guy gave us an introduction thing. Then he passed out folders. We opened them and took out this Hawaiian Lullaby. We had 6 minutes to look it over. Ms. Shields could instruct us for the last three. Then we played. I think the violas did very well. At least my stand. Basically the front two rows were good, though the seconds sounded thin and out of tune. But then the guy was like "Applaud your conductor because she just got you a 1!"
We were like AAAAAAAAAH!!!!
Basically they were judging us on our resilience and our ability to follow the conductor.
So yay.
Then we went and stood around in a hallway and then we FINALLY got to eat. Outside. In the heat. But in the shade!
Alex and I were like "MUST HAVE JUICE...."
Grape, orange, apple, cranberry, mango, lemonade, pineapple, grapefruit...
ANYTHING.
So I borrowed a dollar and waited for like TEN MINUTES in line to get to this concession stand and all they had was sprite. So I was like "No way am I leaving after waiting all this time" and I bought a chocolate bar. Alex and I shared it.
Yum.
Because the buses had been late, we did not have time to see any other groups. We lined up. Ms Shields was like "Y'all got straight ones!" and we were like
AAAAAAAH!
Then we went on the bus and drove home in the HEAT.

Band goes to Festival next wednesday! Good luck emma!
That's all for now!
~Julia

P.S. I got a blister walking home in my dress shoes.
P.P.S. I met a violist on the way home! He had a british accent.

The Era of the Squid

Okay, so as you all know, we have revived the four houses of Inman.
Cheetador.
Wolfador.
Foxador.
Squidador.
A certain person was causing a ruckus involving being placed in Squidador. ("I'm not HAPPY! Do I look HAPPY? The sorting squid should take opinions into account. I AM NOT A SQUIDADOR! AAAAAGHI'MGOINGTOMURDERYOU!!!!")
I would like to not that phrases such as "I'm going to murder you." as well as the actions they describe are not permitted at Inman. Such actions indicate that one is turning to the DARK SIDE and will be transferred. To an EVIL school with EVIL squids.
Anyways, Alex formulated some Inman lore and provided it to me.
I've finally gotten around to posting it. Any spelling/grammar errors are Alex's fault. If you see any (which I doubt) comment and I'll fix it.
Also, any arguments relating to the actual content of the lore can be commented and taken up with Alex and other people involved. Here goes:

The history of how the middle school Inman started was lost long ago, its contexts burned after President Cornelius Blanc was overthrown in the United Republic of Nations, Cornelius’s attempt to unite countries long ago, removed from timelines.

                  A new city had sprung up in what is now called Georgia, called New Tristram (a.k.a. Atlanta). Four powerful tycoons had met together and decided to create a school for the town. Their names: Pippa Bigfoot, who owns a company that hosts track competitions; Lana Fisher, who owned a company that caught seafood, and the two brothers: Wolfram and Samuel Inman, who both ran an agency for the government.

                  It was decided that each founder would teach certain kids. “I will teach the most athletic, the most willing,” said Pippa.

                  “I will teach those who admire learning, a greed for knowledge, and have a knack for the fine arts,” replied Samuel. He had thought of this ahead of time; he named his house Foxador, who’s mascot was a fox.

                  “I will teach those that are the most resourceful, the most sly, the ones who can always a loophole in things,” said Wolfram.

                  “And I will teach those who are the most easygoing and loyal!” Lana said happily.

                  So it was for the founders of the school. Together they have built the school, yet the houses names and their mascots had not been agreed on yet.

                  However, conflict arose. The founders fought over who would rule the school. The conflict came to a cold, dead end when Wolfram had killed his brother, Samuel, and left the school, leaving only his son, Darim Inman, behind.

                   Sadness swept over the last two founders, even naming the school after Samuel Inman after his death. With Darim with them as a painful memory, Pippa and Lana decided to kill the young boy, throwing him in a den of wild wolves. Yet however, Darim had survived, having resentment towards the people that had tried to kill him. With this he named his house Wolfador, in honor of his father and the wolves that had almost killed him, and the mascot a wolf (obviously).

                  Pippa had advanced too by naming her house Cheetahdor (mascot the cheetah). Lana hadn’t been left behind; with her love of seafood, she named her house Squidador (mascot a squid). And to honor the memory of Samuel even more, they included his house of Foxador with Inman (after all, he WAS one of the founders).

                  In the beginning, when the school opened, each of the founders claimed students to be in their houses. But as they aged, with Death coming closer by their side, Lana Fisher of Squidador had given up her prized squid, granted with immortality, later dubbed the Sorting Squid, to take over the process of putting kids in their houses.

                  The history of Inman Middle was dark and dreary. After each of the founders have died, Pippa being first, then Lana, with Darim being last to die, the school grew darker. Rivalries with the other houses grew harsher. This is the ground where all the urban legends were true, where kids from Wolfador and Foxador massacred each other, with gangs from houses terrorizing classrooms day to day.                   When Cornelius was overthrown, when the United States of America were created, Inman Middle School took a turn for a change. Kids stayed at home instead of sleeping in their dorms, which were torn down. A new school system, named Atlanta Public Schools, had stripped Inman Middle to pieces, even going to the point when they removed the houses. Just like the Inman Middle school you see today.

                  But the roots of Inman are still there. After you’re taken to homeroom for your first day of middle school, teachers lead you to a secret room- hall, to be more accurate- where hundreds of other kids in grade 6 are seated. At the very front of the hall is the Sorting Squid.

                  When you get sorted into your house, you sit at the table with your other fellow housemates. After that, you’re taken back to your homeroom to start a normal day (like they always say it). Teachers are in houses too: some are even heads of houses (exception is Squidador; the head will always be the Sorting Squid).

                     Of course you won’t see it at first. Those weird glances rival house members will give you are only just the beginning; if you dare peek around the school, you’ll see it. And all those fears will wash over you like a flood. I suggest you don’t, but if you want to find answers, you’ll to explore. And that’s when you’ll start having second thoughts about this school. 

So yeah.

More posts hopefully coming soon! I have a 'DOOM' video planned out. Emma's animation will probably get dealt with. I'll have a bunch of timeless posts if I can make them.

These probably won't happen till the weekend, though. Don't hate!

I try......

~Julia

P.S. Yeah, I feel guilty about the delay. Bat Mitzvah load. Sorry guys. But again, redemption hopefully coming soon!

Bases vs Basketball

Hey! Blogger was being annoying yesterday, so I couldn't post this. Sorry for the delay! Let's just PRETEND that this was up yesterday. Don't worry, I'll be posting a lot this week! ~J

Today we were having a little holiday fest at school. 
Some MUSIC.
Some dancing.
Some slideshows. 
And some basketball.
DUM DUM DUUUUUUUUUUM
(Foreshadowing - woop!) 
Let's start with the music.
I play viola. Actually, I play violin. But I play viola in school orchestra to occupy myself. Just as a clarification, violas are BIGGER than violins, okay? Not smaller. I'm not even sure where anyone heard that. They probably didn't. Violas are BIG. They have a C string rather than an E. 
They are not mini-violins!
*scowl*
Anyways. Viola. So, we (meaning the orchestra) have these five pieces we polished for the official concert on December 8th. We played four of them for each grade. The same four.
Last year for the holiday whatsit, each grade had a similar program.
1) Singing performance group in auditorium.
2) Theatre arts semester class for that grade
3) Band/orchestra/chorus
This year, our program was like this for each grade:
1) Orchestra pieces (wahoo)
2) Jazz band pieces
3) Basketball (shudder) contest thingy
4) Slideshow
5) Dance contest
6) ?*
*I left before this point so I wouldn't miss Social Studies. Did we do anything here, peers?
ANYWAYS, I was not looking forwards to laboring under the same old boring pieces. Thrice. But it turned out okay. I felt bad for the jazz band having to listen to us over and over again.  Well, then the basketball thing happened. 
Teacher: Let's give it up for the Inman Jazz Eagles and the Inman Eagle Orchestra!
Nice kids: Yaaay! Go orchestra! You guys did great!
Irksome Kids: WOOO! LET'S MAKE NOISE CUZ WE'RE A BUNCH OF APES!
Teacher: Yay! And now, we have a special treat!
Coach: Come on up and chuck LARGE HEAVY EVIL basketballs at our orchestra and their instruments!
(Actually, he really said something like this:)
Coach: When we call your section of the bleachers, anyone who wants to can toss a basketball at either one of these two hoops [RIGHT OVER THE ORCHESTRA]!!!!
Ms. Shields: WHAT
Ms. Shields 2: WHAT
Me: WHAT
Coach: Everyone come line up...
Kids: WE'RE BLOODTHIRSTY! MUAHAHAHA!
Orchestra: AAAAGH!
Violinist: CLOSE THE CURTAINS!
Cellist: Then we can't see our impending doom!
Violist: EVACUATE!
Kids: VIOLENTRAGEOFEVILBALLS!
Us: Waaaaugh!


So, to those of you who might be confused about the layout of the auditorium, here's a little map:


So the basket ball goal is right in front of the stage. Us musicians improvised. We barricaded the stage with the basses, then stacked the cellos on top. The violists were shoved on top to hit the balls with bows.
No, we didn't actually do that. Still, it would have been impressive. We could have marched out, bows in our fists, and annihilate the entire grade!
In reality, all we did was panic.
We quaked each time the ball rebounded. I'm indignant that we were not consulted as a bunch of 7th graders were about to POUND US TO MUSH WITH BALLS!!!
Luckily, we were not injured by the seventh graders.
But then the eighth graders came.
DUM DUM DUUUUUUUM....
At first everything was fine.
But then a ball came SOARING from between the backboard and the supports, plummeting into the first violin section!
What I should have done:

What I did:

Self preservation!
Anyways, although it did nearly topple several chairs, nothing was directly harmed. 
I then joined a brigade of violists who sat on the edge of the stage, then battered down the onslaught of basket balls missing the hoop. 
It was terrifying.
Moral:
Basketballs and basses do not mix. In fact, basketballs rarely mix with anything. Especially me.
~Julia

Frozen Toes

It takes me about 1/2 an hour to walk the 1.7 miles to school.  And in winter...
I FREEZE.

That's me, freezing to death. Notice two important things:

1)  My toes and arms are FROZEN IN SOLID ICE.

2) My "friend" is LAUGHING IN MY FACE.

Just wanting to point that out.

Anyways, although my toes are the most vulnerable, I have a chart of the various locations on my body that are prone to freezing in cold weather.

These parts are my nose, ears, toes, and fingers.
(You may have noticed that cartoon-me has long hair. That's because cartoon me always has and always will have long hair. ALWAYS. I have a long-haired soul)
Anyways, I have a chart of the danger levels of cold pain my toes endure as my "friend" stomps on them.

Level	Description
1	Your toes are cold, as in no longer warm.  You immediately start on this level, as soon as you step outside.
2	Toes are now uncomfortable; you want to be inside.  They squirm and you think negative thoughts.
3	Your toes begin to sting, as though small icy ants are biting them.  You are now quite pessimistic and you want shelter NOW.
4	Your toes feel a harsh sting, as though stomped on.  You find it improbable to distract yourself and can only hope to deny the remaining exposure you face.
5	Toes resemble having had recent contact with bare ice.  You probably start whimpering, if you haven’t already.
6	Toes have been on ice while stomped on with spiked cleats.  Induces hysterics; pain melts from your toes like a tide coming in.
7	Frostbite, or at least something close.
8	Call a hospital. Seriously. If this stage even exists it means you are about to die.

(The bar lines mysteriously disappeared. Sorry)
So, as you can see, we start on level one. There is no level zero. There are no levels inside. Level one is immediate, the awareness of a decrease in temperature one experiences when venturing into the outdoors.

That's me, regretting not just riding the bus.

Level 2 is when your toes are uncomfortable. If you had been outside playing, you probably would have gone back inside where your toes could be warm, however no actual pain accompanies this level.

That's me thinking "Darn, I'm less than a quarter way there. I KNEW I should have taken the bus."

Level 3 is when the pain revs up. You get stinging pains in your toes, like icy ants sending tiny pricks of pain through your nerves.

Level 3 is when you start doubting your survival and struggle for ways to distract yourself. 

Level 4 is intense, as though your foot was just stomped on. Hard.

Pay special attention to the Frostbitten goo oozing out of the sides.

Level 5 is evil. Level 5 is like the burning sore of having just stood barefoot on ice. All you can think is OWWWWWGODMAKEITSTOPOW in a drone of torture.  Your only option is to deny the remaining time in which you are likely to be trudging through pain.

Ow. Ow. I don't even want to think about it.

Level 6 is the killer. When you die and go insane. I doubt any description I have to offer can truly sum up the absolute pain that cuts jaggedly from my toes. OOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.
I had a gory picture, but have since judged it improper.

Level 7. Is this actually Frostbite? Probably not. There was one occasion where I was convinced that I had reached a 7 last year. Maybe a 5.8.

Level 8 was recently invented for when the coldness requires medical attention, as 7 probably doesn't.
DO.
NOT.
REACH.
LEVEL.
EIGHT.
Judging from the pain the other levels inspire, I can't even imagine what this would feel like.

When you finally stumble inside, screaming and crying and dying, you at first feel a pleasant warm tingling, but the warm contrast radiates deep into your skin and festers, short circuiting your nerves in blinding flashes of pain as your legs try to orientate themselves.

I invented this system to occupy myself - and thus somewhat distracting myself from the pain (which was at a 4.7) in my toes.

I hope it comes in handy in desperate situations for you all, and yet hopefully you won't have to use it.

Weeping for my pains,
Julia

A Card

I got a card from the principal today.
No, not a letter.
Not a notice.
Not a referral.
A card.

On the cover it had a small fluffy dog with a silver-red flame patterned electric guitar and shiny red lettering reading "You rock!"

My first reaction was:
"Whaaaat...."

Seriously. Did my mother just say that the PRINCIPAL had mailed me this.... card? With the pop-loving dog and the "You rock!"?

Yes.
The principal had, in fact, sent me the card.

Kudos to those who figured out why.
I just guessed.

It was....
Because of that quartet-gig I pulled for the Superintendent! Yay!
This is what it said:

Julia-
I wanted to personally thank you for your time last week to play at the Superintendent's meeting. Your group did a fantastic job and I was very proud of the compliments that followed.
Sincerely,
Ms. Xxxxxx

So no one noticed me sight reading! Yaaaay.

Of course, I'm positive all the other quartet members were mailed a message like this too. But it's still cool.

This is the second teacher-sent correspondence I have acquired this semester. My first was a postcard (yes, a post card. My teacher wasn't even out of town. Isn't that cool?) The postcard just said I was doing extremely well and to keep it up.

So Huzzah for teachers with cards!

Huzzah,
Julia

P.S. My principal writes all caps!