Talk About Throwback Thursday!

              We all grew up with different families and different surroundings, which means different backgrounds of our childhood. Many of my friends loved Disney as a child and others loved to travel, and others fell in love with cartoons, but my childhood was a little bit different. I didn't watch cartoons, or movies, or even T.V for that matter. The rule of our house was "No T.V until Dad comes home," when dad came home it was 4 o'clock which meant the news, supper, and bed time shortly to follow. My friends always tell me how I "missed out" on a certain part of my childhood, which is quite possible, but in my eyes there is always that part that they missed out on too!!! Anybody ever heard of Tom Pease? No?! How about Randy Peterson?! Have you ever gone to "Sweet Street"? My point here is that these are the things I grew up with. Tom Pease came to my school when I was really little, and I barely remember him, although I'd love to meet him again sometime soon! Randy Peterson? Well, there is a little bit of a background story here, and this is where my overall blog post begins.
              When I was little, every year around Halloween, Shopko Hall would host "Sweet Street." You dressed up in your Halloween costume and walked around to different booths and stations and did an indoor trick or treat. There was also a stage located toward the back that had entertainment for all. I don't remember meeting Randy Peterson for the first time, but what I do know is that I loved to go see him multiple times a year and most certainly at this occasion. Randy performs concerts for children and families alike, if you ever get a chance to stop in somewhere to see him, I most certainly encourage it. He doesn't just perform a concert, he tells a story and a very valuable one at that. He gets both the young and the old involved in his concerts playing guitars or shaking shakers and still today it puts a smile on my face. Randy has inspired me my whole life and has sparked my love for music, the most rewarding part is that I can still go see him today and get the same inspiration and I know that when I play, even in concert band, I want to have a passion like he does. 
              It has been going on for a while and has spread online from various social medias, but the concept of "Throwback Thursday" still lurks around. I don't recall ever posting anything for a #throwbackthursday, but my mom was looking through pictures and found one of Randy and I from when I was little. Recently I visited two of his concerts at the Outagamie County Fair. This performance location is one I hope lasts as long as the music itself does because it is really the only location that I can attend to see him. I have gone for the past two years to meet up with him just to say "hello" and listen to a few of my favorites from a couple years back. It is nice to catch up and visit and remind myself why I do what I do. I have a passion for many things, and I help others and share this passion because I've seen how Randy has inspired me, and I want to be the person to inspire someone else like so. So, for today's #throwbackthursday, Randy Peterson everybody! You can visit his website at www.randypeterson.com and also go to the site to view a schedule of his upcoming performances. This is a part of my childhood I will never ever forget and I will continue to revisit each and every year. Thank you Randy for being such an inspiration to me and keep on doing what you do because day in and day out I see you continuing to inspire others! 


Here are the pictures of Randy and I! 

Today I invite you to:

Keep Calm and Visit Your Childhood

What ever or where ever that may be for YOU! 

A.B

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

              I knew it was coming. I knew that some day I would be nominated for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Well, it happened. My lovely friend Jonathan was so kind to nominate me! I wanted to do it, don't get me wrong. It is for a GREAT cause, but I've been trying to avoid it at the same time. Well, I was nominated and this morning my friends at Subway decided it would be a good idea to do it then. Sure. I agreed, I had to do it sometime today anyway! So, there I stood with the camera on in front of the highway in the parking lot with customers watching me from inside. I did the intro stating that I was nominated by Jonathan and then proceeded to nominate a ton of people. Yea i know, people sometimes only nominate one, but in my eyes the more the merrier! So I nominated a good friend, Emily. My high school band director Mr. Alban (he has 24 hours from the time he watches the video), any members of the SHS Band that haven't already done it, and the staff at Subway. We are having an ALS Ice Bucket Challenge with the Subway staff on Tuesday after our staff meeting. So yes, its a lot of people and you can try to avoid it all you want, but the truth is, do it. It is fun, just the thrill and the cold, and to know that you are helping someone with ALS warms your heart. God Bless those with ALS and I hope the legacy of the Ice Bucket Challenge lives on and I hope people really do participate because it's worth it, it truly is. 
            Tonight, I am going to the Packer game, which is why I am blogging in the afternoon and not before I go to bed. It should be fun, but I have to work tomorrow and with that and taking care of the dog, I've got my hands full. Snickers is getting better, slowly. He is very tired and not really super excited about anything, but he is on a lot of medication. He hates it. These syringes are so difficult to get in his mouth and he wont eat the powder I put in his food. He wont eat food..... because he smells the medicine mixed in. Not even rice, but we are working on it. 
             My two best friends are moving into college pretty much as I type this blog post. I wish you both the best of luck this year! I'll miss you, so visit often, and just think.... Disney. Good luck ladies at SNC and good luck to all of my other friends that are starting college, to think it will be me in one year is pretty freaky, but it seems like a good challenge! :) 
           

But for now, 

Keep Calm and Visit "Home" 
Where ever that may be for YOU! 

A.B

Combined Blog Posts

          Today's blog post is a combination between yesterday and today. I would like to start off by saying happy birthday to my best friend Jonny! Yesterday, Jonny had his birthday celebration with friends and we went out to dinner and then to smart cow, and came home to watch a movie. I'm not going to go through the whole day just because it really was just overall a great time! A while ago my friend, Lizzie, introduced me to something called "Disneybounding" its pretty much where you take a Disney character, theme, or place and dress with similar colors and accessories. Yesterday, I did a Frozen disneybound, and well I will admit that it wasn't perfect, it was one of my better ones. The ironic thing? Lizzie Disneybounded as Olaf FROM Frozen! As previously mentioned it was a fabulous time and my birthday wishes go to Jonathan today in hopes that he had a phenomenal birthday celebration and actual birth day. May all your wishes come true! 
           Here comes for the scary part of the blog post. I woke up this morning to my mom holding my dog (he is probably about 6) and she told me something was wrong with him. He wasn't normal, he was bleeding and it was just bad. Mom called the vet and we had to go to work, so we went to work, but mom came back every couple hours to check on him. Eventually we came to figure out that he somehow ate something that he wasn't supposed to and it did not agree with him. He could hardly walk, wouldn't eat, wouldn't drink and we really did think he wasn't going to make it. As the day progressed he got a little better, he barked when we got home, was able to walk, yawned, ate a small bite of bread from my hand, but was still very weak and mopey. We brought him in and they ran a series of tests. Pretty much, whatever he ate inflamed his intestines and stomach and so they gave us a whole bunch of medication and a plain soft food diet to feed him. He gets two syringes twice a day, and a pill twice a day. He took the medicine fairly well when we got home, and I have spent the rest of the evening holding him and feeding him, slow, small, spoonfuls of canned food. He has certainly improved and is on the road to recovery, the vet just said we have to treat him like a baby for the next few days, but like I said he has improved, a lot. So yea, that was the excitement for the day today, and the only reason I am actually able to type this blog post is because he actually decided to lay on the ground to take a nap. Get well soon Snickers! 

Apologies for the short post again this evening, but overall I'm just exhausted right now :) 

One last time, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JONNY! 

Oh, and 133 is the count, for those who know what I'm talking about ;)

Keep Calm and Visit "Home" 
Where ever that may be for YOU!

A.B

An Average Day

             Well, today was, just as the title said, an average day. This post will probably be shorter than the rest just because I really don't have anything super exciting to talk about today, my friend Lizzie would certainly beg to differ. Today I woke up and did laundry! I KNOW ITS SO EXCITING! Then I planned my Disneybound for my friends birthday party tomorrow. I am doing a Frozen Disneybound, something that he himself would be quite a challenge. The real challenge with my Disneybounds is I don't let myself buy anything new JUST for the Disneybound it has to be for something else first. Unless, its a bow. I then sorted through my jewelry and then FaceTimed Lizzie and we both flailed as she received her DVD copy of Season 3 of our favorite T.V Show. Then, I went to work. Mark, a co-worker, asked for a shout-out, so here it is! A SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO MARK! Thanks for being a fun co-worker! 
I warned you this one would be short so I'm going to close it out early tonight!


Keep Calm and Visit "HOME" 
Where ever that may be for YOU!

A.B

Day's Like Today

            Day's like today are the reason I live. In my life I am constantly striving to help others, help them learn, grow, and then to eventually become leaders themselves. Today I made my last journey to freshmen orientation to try to make a change for the better in the students at Seymour High School. I would like to start off by saying that we were all there at one point, we all sat through what seemed to be a meaningless orientation our freshman year as our parents tried to plan the next four years of our life, and because we had just come from the top of the totem pole down at the middle school, we thought we were at the top here too. Well, turns out we were wrong, but that's not my point. I want to mention that yes, today leading the freshmen in my group was frustrating at times, but also very rewarding in many aspects. Just like some of us got frustrated with them, people too got frustrated with us when we were there, so regardless of what we have to say about the frustration and the people who made the choice not to cooperate, we were them. I said it was frustrating. It was. Two people, leading 8-12 freshman can be a little overwhelming at times, but my job isn't to get frustrated. My job is to make an attempt with all my might to make it fun, meaningful, and helpful to them. I accomplish this by giving it my all, and I love it. It is 100% worth it to make a goof ball out of myself by playing "Simon Says" and screwing up, and playing E-I-E-I-O because at one point or another someone is going to see that and hopefully they will realize just what fun these easy games can be, but only if you make them fun.
         Previously I mentioned that this experience was also rewarding. It is, more rewarding this year than my Junior year because this year I got to see multiple freshmen in my group hit that wall where they realize "Oh crap, I don't know how to read my schedule, and why does this say I have two first hours" or "Wait, my friend doesn't have lunch at the same time I do, does this mean I am alone" and when this moment hits them, that's where I step in and explain, or at least, do the best I can. You do feel like a tour guide for portions of it and you do have to repeat things you know that these students already know. A huge thank you to my best friend, Jonny, for still listening and "finding" his classes even though he knew most of what I was talking about and wasn't nearly as lost as the rest of the students. There is also a moment where high school seems like a lot of rules, but later you realize it's more like a scary wave of freedom, but these moments are sometimes the most valuable. All of these freshmen have potential, I know they do, but there are some who need to learn a little more about the No-H8 campaign that goes on around our school district. Again, we were there. I know what it is like to make poor choices, so all I ask is that if you are a freshmen reading this now, the least you can do is be kind to one another. As a matter of fact I said something today that even I learned from and the quote I said goes as follows, "Just worry about you, not about the people around you, you don't have to be friends, you just have to get along." Think about that. You don't have to be friends, you just have to get along. Wow.
          Frustrating or not, helping these freshman and new students is what I live for as a leader. We are all leader and we are all called to do something and I love helping the new people, to show them that they too will eventually get the hang of it, and I especially like helping those who don't think they can do it because I know they can. Many of these freshman made comments of how they wanted to go home and this wasn't fun etc, but you know what? I ignore that because when I was a freshman, I didn't have a STEP Crew, or a LINK Crew. Nope, I was thrown in the mix along side everybody else and told to use a map to find my classes. That is why I put so much into this STEP Crew idea because it's something I wish I would have had. Sure, maybe just getting thrown in was just as easy, but it was a lot less comfortable. One thing I ask of those below me who will be upperclassmen in future years is this, apply for STEP Crew, help out those below you because I've said it already and I'll say it again, you were there. Do it because I did it to help you. A common phrase is "how can i repay you," ladies and gentlemen, the way you can repay me is to do what I did for you to those below you. Be a leader. Try, and if you fall 7 times get back up 8 because its worth it. A special thanks to my group, and my helpful STEP Crew partner and all the teachers, principals, and administrators that have put so much work and effort into making Seymour High School a better place! Go Thunder!!

Keep Calm and Visit "Home" 
Where ever that may be for YOU! 

A.B

Realities Coming Alive

             The title alone says it all. Realities that I never pictured myself in, are coming alive. If you know me personally, you know that leaving high school, or even starting senior year for that matter is one of my biggest fears. Most of my friends are like "Only one more year!" or "Let's blow this popcorn stand!", but I'm the one that sits in my high school band room and doesn't want to leave. It's human, right? Not to want to leave the place that you have called home for three, going on four, years? I'd like to think so. Starting senior year is the least of my worries for now anyway. I have to get my best friend transitioned into high school first. Then, I need to get accepted into a college. Yes, you read that correctly, this time my best friend is coming first. I won't go into detail because I don't have his permission, but lets just say that high school can be scary. Even if you are a boy, even if previous siblings have gone through it, even if you are familiar with the school, it can still be a little hard on the nerves. So regardless of me starting senior year, I am more focused on helping the freshman transition right now. Then, after they are settled in, the tables will turn and I will focus on me.
             This topic is one I lose sleep over. I cry tears over, and it is something my mind races 100 miles per hour for. Leaving, and as my friend would say "Leaving everything we have ever known to venture off into the workforce, military, etc." Its scary. I am scared, but I know with the help of my parents, friends, teachers, and God, somehow I'll make it through. I'll follow my dream and study Diagnostic Medical Sonography. I don't deserve anything less. None of us do. I have thought about it before and I find it somewhat ironic that all of my "lasts" will be my best friends "firsts" and as sad as this is, I love it because I can pass my legacy on to someone I know will take care of it. As I type this sitting here at my desk, I think about those occasions that will come: my last first day of school, my last football game, my last homecoming, my last band concert, my last musical performance, my last prom, my last this, my last that, and god forbid... my last day of high school and my last performance with the high school band. Ah, yes. High School Band. The thing I questioned even joining freshman year, and looking back I don't know how it was even a question. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WHEN IN DOUBT JOIN HIGH SCHOOL BAND. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. No, seriously... It will... and for the better too! See I play clarinet, and freshmen year I picked up alto saxophone, but band teaches you so much more than how to play a musical instrument, and more than the notes and rhythms. Believe it or not, in band you do more than just make a ton of friends (although this is a plus!). You learn life lessons, things that can't be taught outside of a high school band room, you learn leadership, you learn to have a passion and how to fight for that passion, you learn to put yourself out there and try because you can't go backwards. It isn't just one person that teaches you. It isn't just the teacher, or in this case, the director. It is a combination of people, all very good people who have set out to be a good example. Some say you shouldn't do this, but I am going to mention names. Alli, Megan, Lizzie, Jonathan, Carissa, Gail, Caittlyn, Mr. Alban and the list seriously goes on and on. Please if you are wondering if you have made a difference in my life, take the rosters from the past four years and combine them. If your name is on that list, or even if it is not. Chances are you have made a difference in my life and I would like to take a moment to publicly thank you all for shaping me into the person I am today. To all of you: Thank you! 
           Leaving is going to be a fear, its going to be a change, but I know I will find a new home, meet new friends, but always be able to return home to the current and past as well. As I write this blog post, I stare at two picture frames I received for my birthday a few days ago. One has a quote in it that reads "Don't let someone dim your light simply because it's shining in their eyes" and another holds two fantastic pictures of memories that were captures on our previous band trip to Walt Disney World. I encourage you to think about that quote and find the memories you treasure and take them with you where ever you may go because thanks to my best friends, I know I will. I refuse to leave without leaving a positive mark on as many people as I can. I refuse to leave without helping as many people as I can, but that day will come where I will be faced with a college campus and told to live my dream, but guess what, I will, and you should too! Whether you are already in college, going this next year, or have a few years before you face the journey, live your dream. Please! Go out and set forth on your own personal journey because you will always have a home to return to, always because in the words of my best friend "All fear stands for is False Evidence Appearing Real." 

I'm sure I could go on for hours more, but unfortunately I'm going to have to say goodbye until next time, but my sentence at the end of my post is going to be a little bit different tonight.

Keep Calm and I encourage you to go back "HOME" 
Where ever that may be for YOU!

A.B

The Jumble: We Call It Life... and my birthday!

        There seems to be a reoccurring theme in my blog posts. They are never about one solid thing they are always about me catching up and jumbles of random information. I give credit to anyone and everyone who does the whole "daily blogging" thing because to be honest, I wouldn't be able to do it if I wanted to. I don't even know where to start this blog post, not to mention where it is going to lead to (probably me ranting or venting or some mushy message about senior year), but I'll give it my best shot! 
          Well, August 14th was my birthday. Dad had to work so I spent the day with mom and grandpa and then we went out to dinner at Prime Quarter for dinner when Dad got home. The thing that makes me different from the majority of my friends is those "family like" occasions because truth be told, they are different in every family. My birthday celebration has never stopped after my birthday. Its more like a birthweekend, if that even makes sense. My actual birth DAY is reserved for family. Always has been, always will be. That is the day where I am forced to say "sorry friends, can't plan anything ON my birthday," but I've grown up with it that way, so I'm used to it. Usually, I plan a day where I have some friends over, and then we have a separate day, usually on a weekend, that the family comes over. This year, however, was a bit different. My friends decided that we would do something together the day after my birthday (Friday), a day we all happened to be free! Instead of me inviting them over to my house and having to be the hostess, I was informed that I should be ready to leave my house at 4 P.M on Friday and I would be getting picked up. For those who know me, you know that I am odd and I hate surprises. I hate opening presents in fear that my reaction won't be what the person had wanted it to be, and as outgoing as I am, I don't like everyone starring at me, just waiting for my reaction. I asked the usual questions like "What should I wear" and "Who is all going to be there" and I got the answers fairly easy, but there was certainly some "classified" information involved that I wasn't able to know. The big one? Where we were going. So after waiting almost a full week for this birthday surprise, 4 o'clock rolled around on Friday and my friends pulled up and I got in the car. I figured we were going to dinner somewhere, but yet again, they told me to just hold tight and wait. After the short car ride to Green Bay and some odd conversation about Star Trek, we pulled into Grazies and for those who again know me well, I have never been to Grazies before. I enjoyed it... a lot! All of my friends and I did find it ironic that our waitress put us in the back room! We ate dinner and headed back to Seymour, where we went to my friend, Lizzie's house. She makes the best cupcakes on the planet. Give her a flavor and she can do it, anything from Churros to Grey Stuff can be turned into cupcakes by her! Its great! I had requested Grey Stuff cupcakes, which for those who have been to Disney World know that this is a popular dessert at the Be Our Guest dining experience. They were delicious, they made me blow out a candle and sang the shortened version of my birthday song!  ;)
Then came the time, presents were presented and I sat under the glare of my best friends. 
To make a long story short, it took me approximately 10 minutes per persons gift to open, but when I did it was 100% worth it! I love everything I got, quote frames, pictures from Disney, scarves, Season 1 of Once Upon A Time. It was great. Seriously people. Great. We then watched Star Trek and winded down by watching movies and episodes of Chuck before it was time to give hugs, say goodbyes and thank yous and get a good nights rest. I would like to take the time right now to publicly thank Lizzie, Megan, and Jonny for being a part of this wonderful experience and being the best friends a person could ask for. All three of them have been there for me through the good times and the tears and I couldn't be more thankful! THANK YOU! I have run out of words to express how much I appreciate what you all have done and continue to do for me each and every day. We have had so many unforgettable memories and you are all like family to me so again, thank you so much! 

Well, that concludes my blog post for the evening so don't forget:
Keep Calm and Visit "Home" 
Wherever that may be for YOU! 

A.B

A Day With Family!

       Well, I woke up this morning to the sound of the phone ringing and my mom telling my that a co-worker was sick, so the boring day that I planned turned into a hard working day pretty quickly. I went to work until about 2:30, came home and took a nap, and then my family grilled out for dinner and made a bonfire in our back yard. As we were sitting around the fire, my mom and I got on the topic of talking about Disney seeing as how recently my high school band traveled to Florida. We were looking through some of the pictures on my phone when I came across some pictures I took of the castle at Magic Kingdom. My mom then told the story for about the hundredth time about how when she was little would watch all the Disney movies with the castle and as a young girl always dreamed about seeing the bedrooms and halls of the castle and so when she traveled to Florida she was very disappointed in it, as she found out the castle is similar to a tunnel even though it tells a neat story. I was texting my friend, Lizzie, at this time and I mentioned how I should facetime her so that she could hear this story for herself. Naturally, my mom didn't know what facetime was so Lizzie and I felt the need to demonstrate. Well, we facetimed and talked about much more than just the castle, but anyway my mom got to share her disappointment once more. After fighting off many mosquitoes I decided I should move inside where I am now writing this blog post. 
       I have been direct messaging one of my close teachers Mr. Steltz about choosing a confirmation sponsor, and to be honest this task was a lot more difficult than I had thought it to be. Maybe it is because I am very picky about these types or things, or maybe its because a lot of my family and people I know are different religions or don't practice their faith as much as what is needed for this. I am going to think on it for a night, but I really do trust Mr. Steltz and I am 100% comfortable talking about my faith and feelings with him and so I think he is going to be my choice, provided he accepts. I'm kind of nervous. I shouldn't be, but I am. Most of my friends are already confirmed, but this isn't just a month ordeal and then it's over. No. Not at all. This is a lifetime, a commitment that I have to make, a journey that I have to take and I know that it is going to take more than one sponsor to get me through it all. I'll save the rest of how I feel about this for another day, just because I'm not quite sure what this journey has in store for me, but I won't know because it isn't up to me. It is left solely up to God.

Keep Calm and Visit "Home"
Where ever that may be for YOU!

A.B