Farewell Composure

*Frowns* "Seuss is officially over." ~ Jacob

*Grins* "Don't think of it as 'over', Jacob, think of it as 'accomplished.'" ~ Mr. Cole

Good morning reader,

The rest of my family is in bed, but I cannot sleep! I lay in my bed, trying to catch a wink, but I just couldn't... Friday evening, Friday morning, and all of Saturday were all being replayed in my mind.

It is a bit late to be writing, yet here I am.

Have you ever found that when you have something to say, something bottled up inside, it feels better to get it out by some means? For me, I like to write.

So, without further adieu, I shall proceed to recall the more interesting events which took place over the past thirty six (or so) hours, beginning with PRIM

(As a side note, I will be posting pictures from Prim on Gmail, or Facebook, or something similar. Hopefully I may post a few on blogger as well).

Isaac O. and Reuben P. arrived at our home at 4:30 P.M.. We said our hellos, get dressed up, and took pictures inside and outside (for the weather was decent enough for photographs). After that, we drove over to The Princess (which was the name of the boat that we dinned and danced at). The four of us, including my brother, brought special black sunglasses to wear specifically for our arrival. We hopped out of our vehicle, put on our sunglasses, and walked over to the boat.

According to us, we looked pretty "snazzy."

Next we visited with everyone for a bit, took about a million pictures for the yearbook, ate dinner (ribs and/or BBQ chicken, corn, cornbread, potato salad, salad bar, baked beans, etc.), and danced.

The dancing in my opinion was the highlight of the night. We learned three different dances, the swing, the cha-cha, and a version of the waltz. As a side note, I discovered that it is quite a challenge to attempt carrying on a conversation with your partner while dancing. Thankfully there were no injured toes! Only the occasional "lost rhythm" resulting in temporal step confusion.

The Princess was an absolute pleasure to ride on. After dancing, a few of us ventured to the third level of the boat. From the top, we could see the river stretch for quite a ways. There was a slight breeze which was relieving after our hour and a half (+) of dancing. Not to mention the sunset, which was breathtaking to say the least.

At around 10:00 P.M. it was time for us to depart from The Princess. We formed into groups and shuttled over to the YMCA, located only a few miles from the boat. Isaac, Reuben, Justin, (my brother) and I did not stay for the whole overnight portion of the event. After swimming, water sliding, rock climbing, rollerblading, playing basketball and volleyball, and visiting with friends, it was time for us to leave the "Y."

The four of us may have left the "Y" early to get a good night's rest, but it didn't end up happening. We ended up being young rebells staying up until 5:00 A.M., looking through my Mother's pictures of PRIM and Seussical. We took a couple pictures and recorded a few videos ourselves while up early. I shall try to post the photos and videos we took. Be warned, the pictures of us are utterly horrendous...

Sleeping in until noon felt fantastic! The entirety of Saturday afternoon was spent in anticipation of the cast party (for Seussical) that evening.

Yesterday, we arrived at Faith Bible about an hour before the party was set to begin. With that time, we cleaned a bit and set up.

Everyone started arriving on time at 6:00 P.M.. I was VERY excited to see all my friends in the HPA Lansing Cast! The party included dinner, a slideshow presentation put together by Mr. Doerr, and (you guessed it!) dancing later on.

To my surprise, I found I really enjoyed the celtic square dancing! I envisioned it being more of a western style square dance, with minor tweaking, but it turned out to be a style of dancing in and of itself. I had the pleasure of dancing with Libby, Grace, Abby, and Elizabeth, four of the sweetest, most talented young women I've ever met. Each were very enjoyable to partner with!

All too soon, however, it was time for the cast to go our separate ways and say our goodbyes.

Many of the cast members I will be seeing on a regular basis, but some I won't be seeing until next year, if not this upcoming summer. Even so, I made my rounds and said goodbye to anyone and everyone I could catch.

It was wonderful to share one more night with the cast members, directors, and crew I've been so blessed to have become part of my life. I pray blessings upon all of them and thank God once more for the incredible opportunity I've had this year to be a part of something spectacular.

When walking towards the door was when I voiced, "Seuss is officially over." To which Mr. Cole replied with a smile, "Don't think of it as 'over', Jacob, think of it as 'accomplished.'" I found his response to be not only true, but comforting in a sense... Once again reminding me that this isn't the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning. Soon there will be another chapter to write, another step to be taken, and another opportunity for us to shine our brightest, for His glory.

On that note, I need my rest. Before I forget though! Here are the pictures and videos from yesterday morning. Enjoy!

My expression is basically the same in all of these.

I cut Isaac out by accident...

Sleepy.

Isaac... ? Justin... ?

Just... Yeah.

Vid #1

Vid #2 (At around 4:00 A.M. ish)

Thank you for reading!

~Jacob

Oops! Said the Barber.

Alright, alright, alright... So with my thinking about Barbers the past little while, I decided to sit down and write a story about a Barber and a dissatisfied costumer.

The poem is all over the place (meaning it has no specific rhyme scheme or meter). I wrote it on a whim and it was simply written to make the reader laugh, however messy the set up may be.

Oops! Said the Barber.

"Oops!" Said the Barber...

Then the customer cried...

"You've cut it too short!"

He said right away,

Going on to contort,

What a mess! Disarray!

Anyway, the Barber then spoke...

"Hey Mr. Grouch! To you I convey,

I haven't betrayed,

Not at all I do say!

You sit here and whine, while me you survey,

When I haven't an ill trait of mine to display!

I've put up with you, to this very day,

Never once leading astray,

But now I give way!

You're downright rude, so please don't stay,

Leave here, begone, right now, okay?"

The man replied...

"If I may, I have many friends,

And it may seem cliche,

But I'll name all of them!

There's Ray, Clay, Bray,

May, Kay, Shay,

Jay, Renee, McVey,

Hongwei, Jaquay, and O'shea.

I apologize for the delay, Mr. Barber,

But in the USA,

If you make my hair stray,

Which cannot be sprayed,

So it will not stay,

But instead sway,

YOU, I do not have to pay!

So I MAY disobey, got it jose?

So the man left, to buy a toupee.

Bon Voyage Cheveux!

There are a small number of things that irk me.

1.) Oversleeping (TROUBLE).

2.) Stubbing my toe (OUCH).

3.) Paper cuts (OUCH x2)

4.) Cheesy jokes (Why was six afraid of seven... ?)

5.) Popping balloons (Hurts the ears!)

6.) Sunday drivers (Can they go any slower?)

7.) Haircuts.

Reader, I hate to be a downer, but above the rest (though listed last) I cannot stand haircuts. Sure, I guess that is a relatively childish thing to admit to, but it is true, I simply do not like them.

"Why?" you may ask? Because something always goes wrong.

Dating back to when I was eight, I remember how my ear was brutally sheared while getting my hair cut at the barber's shop (okay, maybe only snipped...). I was scarred for life! LITERALLY.

Ever since, I trust no Barber. I am positive that there are decent Barbers/Stylists out there... But even so...

I have gotten good cuts and bad cuts (hasn't everyone?). Just yesterday, my hair was trimmed. This is due to the upcoming event PRIM, which takes place tomorrow evening. Reluctantly, I received a haircut, as to look "clean" for the event. Let me just say, I am not comfortable with it at all.

"It looks fantastic hun!" ~ Mom

"It looks like someone stuck my head in the blender..." ~ Myself

Here are a few snapshots I took of my new "look."

An overview.

Looking skeptical.

For those of you reading this who know me, you can see that this is a bit of a different look for me. It shall take some getting used to, but I will learn to live with it, in due time.

Let us transition to more interesting things!

I am on the Student Council at TeenWorks and over the past few months we have been planning PRIM. At about 6:00 P.M. we will be arriving at the boat we've rented out (I should remember the name of the boat, but for some strange reason it has slipped my mind!). It is four levels high and while there we will be dining and dancing (the dancing style is rather specific, as well as the music). Afterwards, we will be changing into more comfortable clothes and regrouping at the local YMCA for an overnight.

Personally, I shall NOT be staying all night. I tried this last year, and it was not as thrilling as I thought it would be. SO, two of my very good friends (Isaac and Reuben) are leaving with myself at 2:00 A.M. to stay the night at my house.

Hopefully we will get enough rest during the night in consideration of our cast party the following evening (YAY!). And I am sure we all want to have enough energy and enthusiasm for that.

As for today, me and my siblings had Thursday co-ops. When we arrived, we were greeted by several cast members from Seuss. During study hall we all discussed the success of the musical, the trials we overcame during the week, and the tragedy of its end. Quite the hour!

Anyhow, I do believe I have updated often enough to take a few days break...

Until next time!

Thank you for reading,

~Jacob

P.S. Oh! And for those of you wondering about the title of my post, it's french. The phrase "Bon Voyage" means goodbye, and "Cheveux" is the french word for hair. :)

The End, of the Beginning

Relieved?

That I am. But not completely.

Hectic?

That it was. Absolutely.

Memorable?

In a word. Entirely.

Hello reader,

This passing week has been far more hectic and fast paced then I ever had anticipated. But I enjoyed every minute of it.

HPA's performance of Seussical the Musical is now over, but as stated by many of my friends in the musical, the show's closing was not the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning.

I have made friends through this wonderful organization who are going to last me a lifetime. Little did I know at the time of my audition, how much this experience was going to impact me. Because week after week I would grow in friendships with individuals who would inspire my faith.

If I had to define each cast member with a single word, it would be "delightful." Everyone involved had something unique to contribute to the team, and each of them had a delightful sense of enthusiasm and good-will about them.

Now that all this is over, I wonder what I shall do!

For one, I will be sure to keep in contact with the friends I have made. Secondly, I will make it a point to audition next year, possibly in more than one location. Lastly, I will praise God that all of this happened in the first place. None of it would have been possible without Him.

What a way to start out the year of 2010. We shall see what comes next.

I anticipate auditions in come September.

On a less sobering note (hahaha), some of the cast members and myself went to McDonald's after the last performance the previous night. One of the employees there is a homeschool Mom, so she asked the assistant manager if they could stay open later than usual, and he agreed.

It was funny because these three teenagers came in and saw us with all of our colorful makeup still on. These teens sat in the far corner of the establishment and begun drawing on their faces with magic markers! I have no idea what they were trying to do, but their "work" did not compare to the true specimens of art on our faces.

Now comes the best part. While at the McDonald's, we devised a plan: Randomly get up from our tables with the rest of our fellow cast members and perform the opening number of Seussical.

Multiple witnesses whipped out their portable devices and began recording. There were about seventeen of us all dancing and singing around the restaurant at 11:45 at night. When we completed the number, we were greeted by a round of applause from the other late night attenders and employees on the late shift.

What a way to end a perfect week.

Thank you for reading,

~Jacob

Speak. Don't Speak.

"If you haven't something nice to say, don't say anything at all."

This is a childhood concept which few people seem to fully grasp.

Speak commonly, don't speak openly.

What does this mean? It simply means to speak (to others) about matters which are your own business, do not speak (to others) about matters which are someone else's business.

I am referring to gossip.

Some people reason that, "If what I am telling someone is true, then it isn't really gossip." This is very poor reasoning.

Some also reason that, "They gossip about me, so why shouldn't I gossip about them?" This is also very poor reasoning.

People should not be your standard. Your standard should be God. For there is a time to speak, and a time to hold your tongue. However, there is never a time for gossip.

I have a hard time contemplating this... If people know that gossip can hurt others, then why participate? It is difficult for me to understand.

To prevent hurting someone by this means, what can be done? The solution: Do not gossip! If you, (or anyone else for that matter) is speaking to someone, about someone, which does not involve you, or the person speaking, do not participate.

Think of it this way: If you are speaking to someone, about someone else, you are adding that person (whom you are talking to) as a third wheel.

In relation to a bicycle, if you add a third wheel to it, it becomes a tricycle, and only young children ride tricycles.

My point is, it is immature and childish to gossip about others, because it benefits no one.

The Bible has many things to say about controlling the tongue.

Psalm 34:13 - "keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies."

Psalm 37:30 - "the mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and the tongue speaks what is just."

Proverbs 10:19-20 - "when words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value."

Proverbs 12:18 - "reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

I myself need to watch what I say to others. I am not blameless. In the past I have said or mentioned something which spread by accident as a consequence.

Speak commonly, don't speak openly.

When I have something I want to say, I shall first say it to God, and speak with Him about it. I would encourage you too, reader, to do the same. If I could, I wish everyone could read this. It is an important lesson for everyone to be reminded of at some time or another.

On a happier, more cheerful note, the weather here is fantastic. I am going to devote the rest of today to finishing up this week's homework and I think I shall even try to begin next week's homework load as well (seeing as next week is show week for Seussical!). AND, if there is still time left in the day, I think I may take a walk. :)

Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

~Jacob