Wednesday, August 4, 2010

High School Retreat (or: Friends, God, and Big Bear, Oh My!)

It was interesting being a 19 year old high schooler at the Retreat. I mean, there were two 16 year old girls that were put in charge of the girls dormitory, so that was, humbling? I suppose.

It all worked out as my friend Alexandra and I got a separate room with a cool girl named Aishah.

The car ride up was fine, we stopped at a shopping center for lunch and I ate at McDonalds with a few friends and had a good time before we went on our journey up the mountain.

After helping unpack we got to just chill before our team helped make lasagna for dinner, and afterward we did worship and my friend Tyler spoke about what we were expecting to get out of the retreat. Then we had ministry and fellowship until the wee hours of the morning (Something that would happen every night of the retreat).

During the retreat we went to Big Bear Lake which was a first for me. I had never been to a lake before. It was beautiful, and felt pretty good. But basically it was a slimier, calmer, rockier, uninhabited version of the ocean.

Not that I got that wet. Up to my knees. (not really a swimmer) But I did ride in the back of a canoe and eventually learned how to paddle. Pro status. I was all up in that lake.

Okay, maybe I totally failed at it (So much so that my brother Jonathan at one point was yelling at me for not knowing what I was doing as were were trapped in the middle of the lake with a junior higher loudly voicing her complaints of being on his lap and with people who don't know what they are doing all the way back to shore. True story.)

We went hiking, another thing I totally "rocked" at. (Get it? rocked? Hiking? anyone? .... fine I sucked at that too.)

One of the most fun nights was after hiking when half of our group had got lost (true story) but made it back to the truck and we went out for pizza and then evangelized at a street corner in a little town up in Big Bear. The drive back was full of music and bubbling joy as we all shouted worship songs and stared at the stars with the wind whipping in our hair.

We had a boat day as well which was alright, the more water-sportsy people enjoyed it more. It was still a fun day at the end though.

Lots of games were played, lots of songs were sung, inside jokes were told, crushes were had, and closeness with eachother and God was obtained.

The car-ride back went smoothly, we stopped again and ate at McDonalds and had some more fellowship before going back down the mountain.

The Retreat was great. A lot of things did and didn't go wrong. Not everyone got along with eachother perfectly but there were no major fights or arguments and in the mostpart there were no disputes or harmful pranks. Not everything was perfectly planned but everyone obviously had a good time. To summarize: it was a really really fun camp. I love the mountains. I loved having two roommates and just chilling out.

I miss it already.

A lot.


Next stop? Redding/Northern California on Friday. 6th-16th. Just me and my family. Should be interesting...

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

It's been so long!

A family friend, David, is over right now and is watching stupid videos with my brothers in the living room so I decided to take the opportunity to come and write some more.


I've been going to both the high school and college groups at my church as I'm in that "in between stage" and so I'm going to High School "Retreat" in Big Bear tomorrow! I am super psyched. Like 25 kids and young adults are going to be squishing into one cabin so it should be interesting! Ahem.

I've been hanging out with friends, going to church a lot, crushing on a certain someone like mad, and just having a lazy but good summer.

The same day we go off to Big Bear my mom is being flown out to NYC to visit her sisters and celebrate her birthday. I am very happy for her but also insanely jealous. Although I'm sure camp will be just as fun... right?


We get back from Big Bear on the first of August and my mom gets back the next day and then my family and I go up to Northern CA for a sort of family vacation on the 6th to the 16th. (Also to celebrate my mom's bday which is the 15th) We'll be going to Redding but stopping in San Fransisco (woot-woot) and once in Redding we'll be see some of the Redwoods and my parents are going to be going to this school of ministry up at this major church called Bethel. My brothers and I will be able to see the campus and all but as we're not going to the conference/school we can just chill at the hotel or go sight seeing on our own. Apparently there's a water park near by. That should be fun... I've never been to a water park.

Okay... now they are watching weird as heck Japanese game shows. I am blasting music so I don't have to hear it. So freaking weird.

Well I guess that's all I really have to say for now. David's going with me to check out my college group tonight which should be interesting. I love college group. A lot. *cough*

Nicknames and Guinea Pigs

Aloha!

That's hawaiian for hello. I know. You are now astounded at my foreign language expertise.

No, I am not in nor am I going to Hawaii in the distant future (as far as I know). So why would I start off my entry like that?

Here's why: I've never really had a nickname.. my brothers have and stuff but I just never did. I was just Lauren or insert-sweetie-or-some-other-nicety-here. But recently my mom has taken to calling me Lo-lo. I don't know where she got the idea or even why. But I've started responding to it so now my dad calls me it too. Where am I going with this? Well, I used to watch Lilo and Stitch the series on ABC Saturday Mornings. And I distinctly remember Lilo's older sister Nani calling her lo-lo pretty often. But it was used like this, "Are you lo-lo? That's such a bad idea!" or "Lilo! No! What are you, lo-lo?" That's right. My parents have been calling me the Hawaiian word for crazy. How lovely. I have actually told them this but they have either a) ignored it or b) that may have been why they've been calling me that all along. Even lovelier.

Anyways.

It's been a pretty lo-lo month.

My little brother Daniel went off to Jr High camp and while he was gone both of our guinea pigs, Penelope (mine) and Ginger (his) died from being left outside (in their cage) and suffering from heatstroke. It didn't seem like such a hot day or anything, and there was a breeze, but the dumb little things stayed in their little plastic igloos and basically baked.... Needless to say that was a pretty miserable day in The West family home. I got a new guinea pig, a little brownish red baby we named Nutella or Ella for short a few days later. And when Daniel got home and after we told him the news of our old pig's deaths and of their burial in the backyard he got a new baby too. (Btw, he was sad but he took it pretty well, unlike me. I most def. cried.) His baby looks like it could be related to Nutella but is gray instead with goldish yellow streaks. Her name is Ashley. (Get it? Ash-ley? Cause she's the color of...oh nevermind.) Our guinea pigs are pretty cute together. They love our bunny Roxanne and act like she's their mom which is pretty freaking adorable. She, however, tolerates them.

More later...

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

July Update

My birthday has come and gone. Much sadness.

Okay not really. I wasn't really going to do anything big this year for my birthday, but it ended up being celebrated wherever I went. Which is pretty crazy. I had like 3 birthday cakes this year! The best one was def. the chocolate ice-cream cake. Mmmm....


I got my dad's "old" itouch now that he has an iphone. I chose this cool case that is black with colorful polkadots that has maximum protectiveness as I KNOW that I'll drop it. (already have in fact.)

I also got a $25 itunes card which went really fast (A bunch of Owl City songs including If My Heart was a House [cutest song ever!] and the Hello Seattle Remix [rocks my socks], some We The Kings, Lady Gaga, Meg & Dia and a hint of Josh Groban), body spray, flip-flops, a new bathing suit, and a couple pairs of earrings, and the first Princess Diaries book from a friend.

In other news I believe my non-celebrity crush has grown into Lauren-sized proportions. Should anything come of it? I doubt it, but don't want to give up "hope".


Well thats all for now, pretty fast blog as you can see. Oh, but I do have High School Camp coming up with my new church and I'm pretty psyched about that. *ahem*

Talk atcha later!

Monday, July 5, 2010

One of those "25 Things" notes all over Facebook

I did one, so I figured I might as well put it on here. So here are 25 random things about me.

1. I'm turning 19 in 2 days!

2. I love music. A lot. A lot a lot. I listen to all different types of genres and love singing and dancing along regardless as to whether or not I "can" sing/dance. :P

3. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do with my life as of now.

4. I love to read. I'm a total bookworm. As for writing I always get ideas for books but I never seem to get past the second chapter...

5. Art is fun to do, but it also can be frustrating. I am my hardest judge.

6. In continuation with 6, I judge myself pretty harshly a lot of the time. :)

7. They say eyes are the windows to the soul. I love eyes. I find it really interesting to look at people's irises and see the different colors and patterns.

8. I can get a bit bipolar. At the slightest thing I can get myself all depressed or happy. Music helps.

9. I love nature: animals, trees, flowers, and the sky. I really love stars. Laying back and looking up at a night sky full of stars is one of the most awesome feelings in the world.

10. I am kind of afraid of the ocean. Well not the ocean per-say, but drowning or being eaten by something. (It's like a fear of heights, it's not a fear of heights, its a fear of falling :P)

11. I don't like being afraid or being cowardly of doing anything. Especially when I find out it wasn't that big of a deal in the first place. I get really mad at myself afterward.

12. I really want to travel someday. Especially to Europe.

13. I love the new church/youth group(s) I'm going to now. :)

14. I'm not so good at making new friends or talking to new people, but I think I'm getting better at it.

15. I'd really love to be in a musical someday.

16. I used to be terrified of roller coasters. I still am, but at least I can go on CA Screamin' now. :P

17. I actually enjoy Shakespeare. Mainly the comedies, but I also find parts of Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet hilarious.

18. I love romantic comedies AND action adventure movies. Everyone needs a little of both in their life. :)

19. I'm excited about whatever is coming next in life..

20. I don't like being treated like I'm too young or too naive to understand things. I also hate being ignored.

21. I have a huge scar from my surgery on my back that really doesn't bug me anymore.

22. I find it so much safer to crush on fictional/famous people than friends, but I can't help it sometimes.

23. It'd be cool to actually finish learning an instrument as I only started violin and piano and never really got anywhere with it.

24. Falling in love sounds like an awfully scary and wonderful adventure. :)

25. I pace when I'm on the phone or deep in thought. It helps me somehow I guess :P

Friday, June 25, 2010

Heh, hi.

Why am I still awake? I went to bed at like 3 am this morning...

Oh yeah, because I remembered that I'd forgotten to remember this blog.... *ahem*

I think I need more discipline in my life. Anyways.

Still in love with Owl City. That love is somewhat shared by Josh Groban, Michael Buble, and of course, Neil Patrick Harris. But who said I was looking for a monogamous relationship? ....just kidding.

So what's been new in my life you ask? Well lets see.

Finals (AKA: Frakk I Never Actually Learned this Stuff) are over, schools out, and summer has arrived.

I've been enjoying frequenting my new church and it's high school and college group, as I am in the middle and am allowed to go to both. (HA.)

I've seen a lot of cool movies lately. Letters To Juliet was awesome. So was A-Team, Knight and Day, and Toy Story 3. (but who's surprised about that?)

I've been hanging out with friends a lot more than usual, and the funny thing is I've been mainly hanging out with girls. Now, I am a girl, so that isn't whats weird, but last year I hung out with guys a whole lot more and got used to it. Another thing I've noticed is that all of the girls I hang out with are generally 2+ years younger than me, while the guys I hang with are generally my age or older. I wonder what that says about me.

Um, I'm really excited for the movie, "Beastly", coming out in July (Starring NPH himself as my favorite character from the book! How awesometastic is that?) So, yeah, can't wait for that.

As well as A Very Potter Sequel. So excited for that. It also will premiere (on youtube) in July. Saw some photos of the cast after their live productions, and was jealous that I couldn't be there in the midwest meeting them. Brian Rosenthal and Joe Walker make a pretty cute "couple" I must say. hehe.

Well I really have nothing much left to say except that my 19th birthday is approaching, on July 7th! Craziness.

Oh and that I've been listening to Jango (internet radio) a lot lately and have discovered a lot of amazesome songs that I can't wait to buy with the hopefully large amount of itunes money I will get for my bday. That's all I'm pretty much asking for as a gift from people so we shall see. I also really really want to buy Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog and the soundtrack, but there are so many other things as well, I'm just torn. (Speaking of which, I'm not the only one who thinks there should be a sequel am I? You know you want to know what happened to the poor lovable doctor.)

It's not even that late right now. But in lack-of-sleep hours (due to a combination of the fact that I've been going to bed pretty much at 1 every night, and my long day/sleepover with my friend Jennifer yesterday and long day today) it is really late indeed. So, goodnight!

P.S.
If those celebrity/quasi-celebrity crushes don't work out, I may have one on someone I know in person....

Monday, June 7, 2010

Owl City Love

Is it any surprise that it is Owl City that gets me out of my depressed "funk"? (to use a Glee-ism)

Oh my. I think I may be in love. With Adam Young. He has a blog now, and not only is it cleverly written, entertaining, and amusing, but it is also one of the best things I’ve ever read. It made me grin that goofy grin I have whenever I have a crush on someone. How can he be such a great writer? I mean, I’ve always loved his lyrics. Owl City’s songs are amazing, cleverly written, clean, genius. His Facebook/Twitter updates have never ceased to bring a smile to my face. And when I saw him live online this past Mother’s Day, performing in London, my heart soared. I’ve always assumed him to be shy, because I haven’t seen any serious photoshoots, interviews, or just general mass media of him, which is surprising as he became so famous so fast. But on stage, in front of a thrilled audience, he transformed. Instead of shrinking away from the crowd, he was fueled by their energy and danced around the stage in a Jack Sparrow-like manor powered by his almost-drunk amusement at knowing that people all over the world were watching him. He went between the mic, his guitar, and keyboard at different times during his performances and between songs he would routinely ask the crowd if they were having as much fun as he was. And that’s what he honestly looked like he was doing: having fun. That’s the way it should be. He has a cute genuineness to him. All of what he does is G-rated, cleverly written, goodness. Adam Young if you’re out there and still single, you need to come to Southern California again soon. After you enjoy your summer that is. Hope that’s not too-stalkerish of me. Oh well.
-Lauren

Back again

The thing about blogging is that you tend to need something to write about.

And to remember that you have a blog.

That’s always helpful.

Anyways.

Let’s see…what’s happened to me since I last posted?

I lost my best friends over a crush. I went through a period of just being home and not having friends. I found that my best friends were the ones I never saw due to distance and busy-ness, but talked to constantly via texting, phone, and facebook. I was in another play. I didn’t go to prom. I brought a girl to a Morp (Prom backwards) a week later though. She’s one of my new friends. I started going to a new church, which I actually really like. I reconnected with one of my ex-friends, and she started going to church with me. She then helped me reconnect with my group of guy friends.

I’ve been obsessing over lots of different things. Especially music-related. Glee, lots of different bands, musicals, Neil Patrick Harris…

I’ve been reading a lot too. Beastly was an amazing book and I can’t wait for the movie (which stars NPH himself <3)

It’s finals week. I have to write a final for all of my classes, finish my art-history sketchbook, and find a section out of one of the books we read in Lit to read aloud dramatically. (I chose Cyrano de Bergerac, love love it. Except for the ending.)

I’m going to try and take two online electives. I have to take a bunch next semester. What I really want to do is take dance and singing lessons, so that I can be in a musical. I really really want to be in a musical. So. SO. Much.

Can’t wait for this week to be over so summer can really begin. Who knows what’ll happen.

Well, now that I have all this off my chest I should be able to begin specifying what’s been going on in my life as I begin to blog again. But as I’ve mentioned it’s finals week, so I’d better get started on that.

TTFN-

Lauren