Ten Freaking Years (Warning: May Contain Typos.)

The intention behind this post is to look at back on the decade. The 2000's. It's not really that exciting that the world has made it another ten years. Especially since we're supposedly all going to die in 2012. If you believe that, then this is a depressing occasion for you.

Anyways, I'll be honest. I can't remember the last ten years that well. I remember change, whether it was of the world or within my family or just my own self.
Here are some things that were highlights for me, not in a chronological order:

-2002: My brother Ethan was born. I had prayed and begged for a sibling for 9 years only to find out that it wasn't worth it. Babies are hard to deal with and they sucked up all the attention. Seven years later, I still regret wanting a brother, but I deal with him...because I love him to death. :)

-2007: My paternal grandfather died. It was my first real experience with death and it was very weird. It took a long time for the reality of it to settle with me.

-2005: I started middle school. It was definitely the beginning of the rest of my life. From there, I made that unavoidable transition from childhood to angst-ridden adolescence. I've learned a lot about myself and the world around me since then. It's been crazy. I'm just glad that the worst of these years is over.

-2008: My second brother, Henry, was born. This was the unexpected one; a huge surprise for my family. There was a lot of uncertainty over whether he'd ever be born. My mother thought that she'd lose him or something would go wrong. We kept it a secret until she was about 6 months along and there was no denying it. My family would have one more child. Henry was born in late October. Mom was scheduled to have a C-Section on the 27th, but Henry decided to arrive one day early. He was born at some early hour on Oct. 26th. Of course, I don't know actual hour, haha.


As I write this and rack my brain for more meaningful memories, I'm getting lost. Those were four that stood out in my mind even though I know there is so much more.
Sometimes I can't believe how fast time has gone and how much I've changed. I can't believe how fast my brothers are growing and how everyone in my life is growing up as well.

2009 was an interesting year for me. It was meant to be my year to turn my life around completely. I had been letting little things really affect my grades and my outlook on life and I couldn't take it anymore. Of course, I've never been the happiest, most positive person ever. In fact, I never will be. Cynicism is just a huge part of me and I actually kind of like it. Anyways, I was really miserable in 2008, so I vowed to make 2009 the best year ever. I'd like to think that I did a pretty good job of doing that, too. I turned my grades around, going from a 3.3 GPA to a 3.5 to a 4.0. That was really all it took to make me happy, but things continued to look up. I met more people that helped change my outlook on things and had an amazing summer. When the new school year began, I was confident and ready for anything. Or so I thought.

AP classes were a shock to me. I wasn't used to the structure and strictness and the NOTES. Oh, the notes... First term was a struggle, and a bit disappointing. Second term has so far had a similar feel. But, I'm putting myself back on the right track and am determined to get straight A's for the rest of the year and for my entire senior year.

I realize that I have trailed off a bit and for that I apologize. The fact that you're even reading this just means so much to me. I usually write these just for myself, but I think that some people actually read this blog. Nosy family members, mostly. ;) If my writing is painfully bad, sorry. My mind goes in several different directions while I'm trying to talk about one thing.

In short, I just think that the past ten years were the same as any other decades: The world changed, new things were invented, technology advanced, more art was created, people were born, people died, wars happened, Wal-Mart flourished, and we all got older. Life is beautiful, in all its many aspects. I don't care HOW cliche and stupid that sounds.

Happy New Years.

SUMMER TO-DO LIST.

I want to make this summer count.

Visit an art museum.
Jaywalk across a busy city street.
Conquer my 4 main fears (bees, birds, piercing, x-files.)
Jokingly and temporarily dye my hair green.
Make at least 5 videos.
Take at LEAST 50 pictures of every place I visit.
Learn about my heritage on my mom's side.
Make a friendship stronger.
Start running everyday.
Add 100 new songs to my iPod.
Learn to salsa dance.
See as many OSF plays as my pass will allow.
Meet someone famous.
Complete my reading list (I'll post a seperate one)
Get my stupid permit!
Hang out with my brother as much as possible...and get along with him!
See a Decemberists show.
write something worth showing off.
Watch all the Star Wars movies in a row.
Make a hat.
Adopt an animal (cat or dog.)
Limit myself to talking about Arrested Development only twice a day.
Learn 5 beatles songs on the piano.
Spend $$$
Shop at BIG MALLS.
Buy at least one designer item to add to my tiny collection :) No knockoffs, btw.
Upolad a bunch of pictures to facebook and myspace.
Compliment someone once a day.
Make up a really awesome quote.
Read Bartlett's Book of Quotations from start to finish.
Prepare myself for junior year.
Stay healthy.
Not get sunburned.
Meet someone cute at EFY.
Get my laptop :)
Learn a new instrument.
See Star Trek 3 more times.
Watch my baby brother take his first step.
Spend time with my family.
Become more outgoing.
Watch less tv.
Start cooking more.
Befriend a foreigner.
Become a master of Mario Kart.
Buy my first pair of stilettos.
Make friends.
Keep my room clean.
Let my skin do whatever.(Tan, burn, etc.)
Try not to forget everytihng I learned this year.


I'll probably add to this.

Neglect...It Builds Character!

I apologize for the 6 months of silence. I got very caught up in school and the other stresses of my everyday life.

So, I'm going to try to starting posting on here again. I'll be doing a lot of traveling this summer, so I want my parents to be able to read this and be updated on what's going on with me. You can also follow me on twitter.

twitter.com/xanchez

Now, what's been new with me? Honestly, nothing. In the past six months, I have:

Started watching House.
gotten good grades.
hung out with two of the cutest little brothers in the world.
gotten older :(
read over twenty books (that may or may not be a gross exaggeration...)
planned an amazing summer.
made some videos.
done more filing than I'd care to admit.
had a severely swollen foot.
shared my home with my grandma as well as my immediate family.
gone on a speech and debate trip/tournament (I placed 11th out of 54 in my catagory. Not enough to break finals though.)
learned some stuff.
discovered Phat Dipping :D
eaten a few jars of hummus.
watched so much Spongebob...
had pinkeye.
taught myself how to use iMovie.
dealt with a very liberal teacher...and got along with him quite well.
developed a dislike for iPhones.
wanted a fro (that's nothing new...)
spent $2 on a newspaper.
seen a Beatles tribute concert.
relied on SparkNotes to save my life (However, I did read parts of Grapes of Wrath...)
watched my dog bury the organic poptart that I was generous enough to share with him.
complained.


Haha :)

We're Related?

Look at these and tell me that we don't look alike. Just try.



Me. Oldest. Age 16.



Ethan. Age 6. Boogerface.




Newest addition, Henry. Age 2 weeks. cuuuute.

Why Does Everyone in My Family Talk in Their Sleep?

My family members talk in their sleep frequently. It's really weird and sometimes, they say strange things.

Examples for those who doubt me:

1. Dad is sleeping on the couch. I get up to get a glass of grape juice.
*closes fridge door*
Dad: Thanks, Xan.
Me: For what?
Dad: For....you know.
Me: No, I don't know. You have to tell me.
Dad: For the uhh....the dug...the uhh....*snores*
Me:.....you're welcome.

2. Ethan is sleeping, I'm reading.
Ethan: Xan, why aren't you alseep?
me: not tired.
Ethan: Xan....why'd you tease me?
Me: Um....I did?
Ethan: Yeah. With the... the thing.
Me: Goodnight, Ethan.
Ethan: goodnight.

3. Grandma. Just took her sleeping pill.
Grandma: I wish they'd tempt me with some bacon and eggs.
Me: Well, you're sick, remember?
Grandma: Let's go to Ihop or Denny's.
Me: You're sick....you have pneumonia.
Grandma: But, I really want some bacon and eggs. Or Chinese food.
Me: Okay, well, I'll set the alarm to go off at 8 so we can go to breakfast.
Grandma: Okay.

4. This one's my favorite. It happened when I was 8 and my family was on vacation.
Me: Mom, why aren't you a room parent at my school anymore?
Mom: What about brother Cheney?
Me: I didn't say anything about him.
Mom: Listen. Juuuust listen.


I told you so.

I Don't Try to be Forgetful....It Just Happens.

School began.....a month or so ago, actually. So, my excuses for not posting are pretty much gone. I'm sure all zero of my readers cared so much that there was nothing new to read on here. Ugh....

Well, here's the update:

School is fine. No complaints. I don't like it, but I don't think anyone does. I'm just really tired of kids my age.

My family is currently preparing for the arrival of the third child. I know dad likes to say family affairs are no one's business but ours, but I can't help but talk about the baby!! I'm excited!! The only problem: I'm sixteen years older than this kid. People are going to think it's mine. I had that problem with Ethan.....when I was NINE years old. People can be really dumb (yeah, I hate using that word, it makes me sound like I have a small vocabulary). I'll get over it, though.

I'm trying to be as involved in as many school things as I can handle. Drama club, speech and debate, visual arts club, advisory board, etc. So far, I've only stuck in these clubs because I know they'll make me look good come college time. NYU doesn't just accept anyone, you know.

Yeah, that's right, I want to go to New York University. Major in journalism, then go to law school maybe. Since my mom will not pay for me to go to any college other than one of the three BYU's or SOU, I better get going on applying for scholarships and saving. It's not that I don't want to go to BYU, it's just that I want to go to a place that has a good journalism program. Scratch that. I want to go to a place that has an AMAZING journalism program i.e. NYU.

:) Though, I'm considering BYU. But, seriously, I have two full years of high school left plus the rest of the current one. I have time to decide.

Back From the Dead....Or Something.

Greetings from a severely overwhelmed 16 year old!

It's been too long since I've posted. Way. Too. Long. What's new in my life, you may ask? Well, I'll tell you.


1. I turned 16 recently. Go me. I'm officially old enough to drive even though I'm in no hurry.....at all.

2. Sophomore year is going pretty well, actually. The school has managed to surprise me yet again with the lack of challenging classes. I shouldn't be surprised anymore. I should be used to it. But, I'm too disgusted.

3. My baby brother is going to be born in about a month. That's the craziest part to me. I mean, a baby? In my house? That belongs to MY parents? Whoa.

4. There is no 4. I just felt like adding more to the list!


That's all for now, I'll say more later.