Photos

Lately I've been spending time and uploading photos on facebook and I had almost forgotten that I had a blog... so I think it's my blog's turn for some attention now! Well, the photos I'm putting up are from almost 3 weeks ago... My family and I, of course, were in the area so we went to a place called Centralia... it was supposed to be a ghost town but that aspect of it wasn't impressive because all the houses that had been abandoned had been torn down long ago and some people stayed in their houses so it didn't really seem like a ghost town... but the reason why those people who left, left, is a little fire that began in 1962- and is still burning... underground. u c, it was a coalmining town, but somehow the coal mine accidentally got set on fire... anyways, with plenty of fuel to keep it going, the fire is still burning, and in some places, such as a section of the highway in the area, the ground caved and smoked and stuff. It was really neat and eerie especially since it was pretty overcast when we went to see it.

^you can see why the road had to be closed^

Here Alyssa seems to be quite enthusiastic about the smoke she has found venting from the earth.

*cough, cough*

We were wondering why this house had five chimneys?

Wind power!

The crack in the highway...

My strong sister

I caught my brother trying to sneak into the graveyard! He looks very guilty doesn't he?

^Little old me

Well that's all for now... I'm all done in.

Laterz

Today's happenings and hair

I wish I could go to the library @ least once a week.
But such is not the case.

My karate class was canceled today. Which to be honest, I am a little glad about because I had some things I wanted to do today.
Alyssa and I, our soccer team won yesterday, 4-2.

I played with my oldest bunny rabbit, Missy Daisy, in the yard today. Usually I just set her in the outdoor playpen and leave her there, but today I actually set her down and let her romp around... at first she was rather surprised, but then she went exploring... you have no idea how cute it was!
I am thinking about getting my hair cut into a bob and getting bangs again. I had that haircut til I was 8 or 9 I guess.
I watched a really good movie today called Homecoming. It was made in 1996, when I was two years old. It's based on a book, which is entitled, naturally, Homecoming, and it's by Cynthia Voigt. It's the first of a series of books called the Tillerman series I think... I didn't actually read Homecoming; I read Dicey's Song, which is the next book in the series. Anyway, I love the movie and that book. So that is partly why I wanted to go to the library... to get more books from that series. The actors in the movie are all really great, and I love 'specially how Dicey looked... and she happened to have that haircut I was thinking of getting... maybe that even influenced me to want to get it again... I mean, I wanted to get that haircut again before I watched the movie, but I guess that made me want to get it even more. :) I just don't know when... I was also trying to see if I could get my hair to be like 2-2 1/2 feet long... and I am sort of close. I feel like measuring my hair... brb

okay Alyssa couldn't really decide but it is about 20 inches. If I cut it, I am definitely giving it to Locks of Love to be made into a wig for chemo patients. I like to think that if I did, another girl somewhere would have the exact same hair-do, down to the same hair, as me. Do you think I should cut my hair right away, wait til summer is over, or not cut it at all?

Here's a pic of me last Fall... my hair has grown like 4-5 inches since then. In Spanish, is hair pelo or cabello? or both? Because then horse hair would be caballo cebello...

Tengo hambre... quiero comer pizza... laterz

Dumb Questions on Homeschooling, LOL

I did not write this... I found this posted by someone who in turn found it from someone else on the World Wide Web. So I thought I'd share it w/ you... go ahead and read it if you'd like a laugh! Have you ever noticed that even the most intelligent seeming humans are capable of asking extremely stupid questions about homeschooling? Although I'm always too polite to retaliate, the following answers always run through my mind when I hear the following:

Do you parents make you homeschool?
1. Yes, they chain me up in a deep, dank basement and force me to learn independently.
2. Yes, they do. In my heart of hearts I really *want* to spend 6 hours a day in a stuffy classroom filled with stupid people, listening to a rude and irrational teacher rant incessantly.
3. No, I make them homeschool me.

Do you have any friends?
1. Friends? We don't need no stinkin friends!
2. Yes, let me introduce you to my friend Harvey. Say hello Harvey.
3. No, I'm a misanthrope sociopath who would rather die a thousand deaths than be socialized normally.

How do you meet people?
1. I have found that painting myself blue and running through the streets screaming is a very effective way to meet people.
2. I go to a playgroup!
3. Actively seeking out human companionship is illogical.

Do you get graded?
1. I grade myself. I am very proud of myself for maintaining my 4.0 GPA.
2. Grades are determined each semester by a coin toss.
3. Grades? What are those?

How do you know what to do without a teacher telling you?
1. I am omniscient.
2. I visit the library and pick books at random. Those books then become my curriculum for that semester. Last semester, I studies alternative physics, macrame, tomato growing, and the plot flaws in the Star Trek the Next Generation episodes.
3. The little green aliens who live under my desk tell me what to do.

How do you remember to work without a teacher nagging you?
1. I'm a very bossy person, and therefore I get on my nerves all the time by nagging myself to do homework.
2. Why would I need to be nagged? I love doing algebra homework!
3. I bribe myself. Whenever I finish a homework assignment, I give myself a dollar or a candybar.

Is homeschooling legal?
1. No. In fact, you could even be arrested for aiding and abetting a criminal just by talking to them!
2. Yes. The Government wants as many of us smart-aleck, self-motivated brats out of their high schools as soon as possible.
3. No. We live in a dictatorial police state where being different is punishable by death.

Do you like homeschooling?
1. No, I hate it. I'd rather have a root canal every day.
2. Dude, I love homeschooling. In fact, I love everything! Peace and Love, man.
3. Not particularly. I tolerate homeschooling because the alternative is so horrendous.

Are you going to homeschool your children?
1. With any luck, my offspring will be born on an asteroid colony, where homeschooling is the only viable means of an education.
2. What kids?
3. Certainly! In fact, my children will undergo an accelerated education, so that they will be ready for college by the age of 10.

You must be pretty smart to homeschool huh?
1. Actually, my intelligence level is below normal. I have simply acquired an immense vocabulary through memorization, which often fools humans into believing that I am more intelligent than I actually am.
2. I am a super genius, and my superior intellect allows me to take full advantage of non traditional methods of education.
3. Duh, what? Huh?

Little known facts about me that you may have never known before!

Well, since I spent almost an HOUR doing this, I thought I might as well put it all on here for you to survey...
After only answering questions for the past hour however, I am having difficulty thinking up things of my own to say... so anyway, read this and maybe you'll find out some little known fact about me that you never knew before!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The longest survey you'll ever fill out! Do the world a favor: fill it out and post it for all your friends. Do this because the person who sent it to you didn't sit here for ages for nothing. Answer all the questions honestly, no lying to avoid stuff.

Starting Time: 6:39
Full name: Maranda Leigh Powell
Sisters: 2
Brothers: 1
Eye Color: blue
Shoe size: 9-10
Height: approx. 5'6"
What are you wearing right now: Loose light blue jeans a few 'destroyed' patches that I borrowed from my sister cuz she can only fit them after a certain amount of serious exercising... and a Bright Blue BMA shirt that I got in a gift bag drawing at PA campmeeting.
Where do you live: Pennsylvania, the Keystone State
Favorite Number: 13 & 54 (they also happen to be my lucky numbers, lol)
Favorite Drink: Cold A-Treat Cream Soda and Polar Punch (I haven't had that in a while... it was a smoothie recipe we created composed of orange juice, frozen bananas, and pineapple)
Favorite month or month of your birthday: January
Favorite Breakfast: Pancakes

*******Have You Ever*****************Broken a bone: Yeah, when I was 3... I may have told you the story b4... kind of funny story, I was playing 'Zaccheus' on the couch with Alyssa. I was Zaccheus. I climbed to the very top of the couch and Alyssa would say, "Zaccheus, please come down!"... well, I came down, but not the way she expected! I fell and at the splat at the end, I slightly fractured my arm... it's one of my oldest and vividest childhood memories... come to think of it, most of my childhood memories are of injuries... kind of odd.
Been in a police car: naw
Been on a plane: Yeah
Ever came close to dying: I don't think so!
Been in a hot tub: yeah, several X @ hotels.
Swam in the ocean: Yep, but only a few times, in the Atlantic. When we lived by the Pacific, I was too young to go in the water. I've swam in Lake Erie more.
Fallen asleep in school: Yeah definitely... it's easy to do if you're a homeschooler
Broken someone's heart: you tell me...
Fell off your chair: maybe
Sat by the phone all night waiting for someone to call: No
Saved e-mails: I pretty much save every email I get.
Been cheated on: nope, never gave anyone the chance.
*********What is-****************Your room like (color scheme?): It has alternating lime green and bright blue walls, with ceilings left white.
What is the last thing you ate: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Your favorite color and thing to do: my favorite colorz r green, purple, and orange. I guess my favorite things to do are reading, watching movies, and generally talking/socializing/doing things with other people.
------------Ever Had- -------------------------------
Chicken pox: yeah, unfortunately, I had it last fall. I think it was the worst week of my entire LIFE! I got hit pretty hard since I was kind of old to be having it. I have a couple teeny scars, but not cuz I scratched them... okay but I won't gross u out anymore...
Sore throat: ¡Claro que sí! Of course!
Stitches: Nada

Broken nose: Nopety nopety no
Someone who absolutely drove you up the wall or you couldn't get along with: Well some ppl annoy me only sometimes, but yeah I admit there are a few ppl I guess I don't like much!
Car sickness: Yeah... I mostly get it on really windy roads, in hot weather, or from trying to read in the car.
-----Do You------------------------------------

Believe in love at first sight for anything: No... that's one reason why I turned down the first guy who liked me... I guess he doesn't believe in it anymore either now...

Love picnics: Yeah
Like school: Well, I don't hate it... I guess I like it as much as anyone could like school.

Love your sibling/s and parents: Yes I love them all immensely!
Like to make new friends or meet new people: Yes

--------------Last Questions-----------Who was the last person you danced with? My little siblings, lol
Who/what makes you smile: Things that make me smile generally will make me laugh too...Being happy makes me smile... duh... um cute animals, funny forwards, books, and movies (I'll just be sitting quietly readin and I seemingly randomly burst out in laughter, yeah I luv funny parts of books), as far as people, anyone can make me smile if they say the right things!
--------------------------Who---------------------------------------------Did you last yell at last? My little siblings probably. A lot of times I have to yell just to be heard, you know, to make my voice carry.
Do you like filling these out: Kinda Sorta... I mean, I wouldn't want all my friends to be in the dark on all this highly important information on me!
Do you wear contact lenses or glasses: Contact lenses
Do you like yourself? Yeah, why wouldn't I?
---------------------Final Questions---------------------------What are you listening to right now: The birds singing through the window, a door slamming, people walking around downstairs.
What did you do today? School, reading, did a lot of updating on shelfari, talked on the phone, correspondence.
What car do you wish to have? Well, I really like those cute pontiac sportscars... but of course I'll probably just end up getting an affordable car that won't cost too much to replace when I crash it XD
Good singer: Taylor Swift pops into my mind
You the oldest: Nope, second oldest.
Indoors or outdoors: Well there are times that I'm in the mood to be outdoors, and times when I''m in the mood to be indoors.

------------------------Today did you------------------------------1. Talk to someone: my family members, Korah
2. Get sick: No3. Sing: probably, I sing a lot
4.Trip over something: If I did, my mind has blocked the memory of it for the benefit of my pschyological health.
5. Miss someone: yeah... :(--------------------Last person who---------------------------

7. Was in your bed: me myself
8. You talked to on the phone: Korah
9. You texted: I don't have a cell phone; thus, no texting
10. Went to the movies with last: I haven't been to an actual theater since I was like 5 (besides I-max 3-D theaters) but the last person I watched a movie with would be people my family
11. You went to the mall with: My mom and sister I guess

-------------------Have You Ever---------------18. Been to Mexico: No
19. Been to Canada: No

20. Been to Africa: No
21. Had somebody laugh just when you started walking towards them: I can't rightly recall such an incident, no.
------------------------Random-----------------------22 What books are you reading this summer? Wha!??? I have to wait for the summer to read?! aaaaaaahhhh I have been like totally reading hundreds of books lately (okay, that was a little hyperbolic... hehe I learned that word in Literature class, it's nice to know especially if you are always forgetting how to spell exaggeration, is it two x's or two g's?)... ANYWHOOO I have a virtual shelf of all the books I've read lately or some not-so-lately and of books I plan to get ahold of and read and of books I am currently reading... I think I'll be able to get a widget for it up soon on my blog, maybe. Anyway, I've been reading about the Holocaust in my Literature and History classes so I read a few required and supplementary books on that "event". Including NIGHT by Elie Wiesel, The Diary of Anne Frank (the definitive edition), Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, and Fire in the Hills by Donna Jo Napoli.
23. Are there monster's under your bed?? I used to believe wholeheartedly that there were. I conjured mental images of the ear monster, nose monster, toe monster, etc. I even got Alyssa to believe in them. I don't believe in the anymore, but sometimes I still make sure all my appendages are safe under the covers where NoThInG can get to them...
27. Favorite sport to watch or play? Volleyball, I guess. Soccer too.
30. Favorite location: My own home sweet home, the library, book stores, the beach
32. Who do you really hate: Satan
35. Ever tried to tell somebody something and they didn't understand: Yeah but usually if I don't think someone will understand something, I don't even bring it up.
36. Are you lonely right now? No... I have company. Mine annoying little brother makest his annoying young presence known at mine side at this time.
37. Ending time: 7:33 (Hey, I like 2 b thorough)