Toni's Thoughts... - Homeschool Blogger

I've moved!

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 10:19:00 -0500

Well, I suppose it's about time to inform anyone still reading this blog of my new site--sorry about the delay there! Click HERE for my new blog. And click HERE for my new photography site.

For your viewing pleasure...

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 07:34:00 -0500

We all like Starbucks. A lot.

We also like watching Food Network with Mr. Whitworth after camp is done for the day.

I like to look at this clock during technique class (usually because my technique stinks).

Beth likes telling us about how she tried to implement a new bow hold during her lesson...and failed.

I like sitting in orchestra practice, pretending I can play all of the music.

I also like sitting in nice rooms watching masterclasses with really good people teaching.

But most of all...I think I just like being here in general.

P.S. I'm older now too. But I don't know if I like that yet.

Day 3

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:27:00 -0500

Day two (and the previous two days)

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:40:00 -0500

I wish I were an eloquent writer. It would be so nice to come up with creative, interesting, and humorous things to say like my sister Beth does. But alas...I am definitely not the artist with words in the way she is. So, because of that (oh, and the fact that my camera and I are still buddies), I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Kids all over the floor...

...along with beds

Watching movies upstairs

Cute

Eating breakfast...8 people crammed around the table even though there was another one in the other room.

Hannah, ready for the day

Katy's growing up!

Orchestra practice in the morning. The orchestra is actually around 75+ people, nice and big

Beth in the massive viola section

Me, following/playing along with the 1st violins

Annie...awesome orchestra director

And that's about it for now!

...pictures...

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 13:26:00 -0500

Okay, my new camera and I don't just like each other--we're good buddies now. It's still nameless as of now. My mom suggested Juliet. Josh suggesting something meaning light. Anyone else?

Nashville...and a little something else

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 08:24:00 -0500

I'm in Nashville, once again. This is my 5th time in Tennessee in a little over a year, and I feel like I'm beginning to have the drive memorized. We're here for our second Fine Arts Summer Academy hosted by the Annie Moses Band and the camp officially begins tomorrow. I'm hoping to actually resurrect this blog during camp, posting pictures and stuff from our time here. We'll be gone for over 3 weeks...*sad* *happy* I'll be ready to stay home for a while after this, needless to say.

Anyways, we got here (here/home for the next few weeks = our friends' house) at about 4:30 yesterday afternoon. As I walked up the steps to the second floor I was greeted with a large box with a return address from Canon.

*screams*

*jumps*

My camera was here!!

We already like each other.

It's big, not too heavy, and I'm a little overwhelmed by all the different settings, not to mention I'm afraid to let anyone breathe on it. But, oh well, I'll get used to it. It does need a name though. Anyone have any ideas?

Senior Pictures

Wed, 20 May 2009 21:30:00 -0500

All the credit goes to Beth who was kind enough to take about 700+ pictures for me. These are a few of my favorites...

Graduation is in a week and a half!

Debate...again

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 09:53:00 -0500

Hey everyone! I'm doing pretty good, huh? 2 posts in a little over 2 weeks . Debate season is in full gear, I'm getting ready for one more qualifying tournament, then it's off to the Region IV Invitational at the end of April. So, with that in mind, for anyone who is interested (and I mean anyone), Maisano/Morgan's affirmative case is online--ready for some input.

Now, whether you're in debate, you're a parent, or you have no idea what in the world I'm talking about, we would LOVE to get your feedback on our case. So run over to The Brian Factor and please leave lots of comments with your thoughts. If you use it to find some killer piece of evidence against it, we'd ask that you be kind enough to post it. Same goes for arguments you think up--please share them. Fair enough?

Thanks in advance!

India, anyone?

Fri, 6 Mar 2009 23:16:00 -0600

So. For some reason or another I've been reading a lot about India.

Lots and lots and lots of books...about India ironically enough.

Don't really know why.

But anyways, yeah. India. My life in a nutshell right now.

*sigh* I think I'd like a Chai Tea Latte right about now.

Oh look! A Chai Tea Latte. And my gorgeous shoes. On a California beach.

Yeah, sort of like that one.

**IMPORTANT NOTE** Toni is not held responsible for any confusion or randomness caused by this disjointed, bizarre post. Thank you.

January Warm Up Recap

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 20:02:00 -0600

Posted from ARC Blogs

Well, it’s been over a week now since Region IV’s first qualifier of the year, and I feel like I’m still recovering. So before a bunch of ARCers head off for the next tournament, I thought I’d share a few of the important lessons that I learned at the Houston Warm Up

Lesson #1: Bring your dress shoes
(is there really any explanation needed here folks?)

Lesson #2: Friends are amazing
Each year I’m blown away by the awesome friendships that I have with my Region IV friends. Seriously. I’m going to be missing everyone so much when this is all said and done. And the best part is, friends aren’t just from my club, or even my area. Through speech and debate I’ve made friends from across the state, and region, and country.

Lesson #3: Tournaments aren’t meant to go past 11pm
All right, this will be my fourth year of competition, and I’ve never been at a tournament that was more exhausting. I guess in some ways that’s good, competing on 5-6 hours of sleep each night is a good exercise in remaining sane and slightly coherent under really trying circumstances.

Lesson #4: The next generation of NCFCAers is here
This was by far one of the coolest things I figured out. Each year I wonder who is going to take the place of the amazing people that graduated the previous year. And each year I’m in awe of the up and coming speakers I see. This tournament was no different, in fact, it might have been more noticeable this year. It’s so exciting to see all the new faces, and then proceed to be beaten by them :). I can’t even imagine what the NCFCA will look like 10 years from now–it will definitely be neat to see what God does with all these people.

Lesson #5: I’ve got some amazing parents
I do. Really. I can’t begin to thank my parents for the huge, gigantic sacrifices they’ve made on my behalf to allow me, and now my sisters, to be able to participate in this kind of activity. ((hugs))

Congratulations to everyone who participated–the January Warm Up was a huge success, and I’m looking forward to these next few tournaments!