It's been forever!

Wow ... I havn't blogged in soooooo long! I've actually been really really busy with school, the sorority, and my work out schedule. Due to the fact that I have been so busy ... well it's made me miss home!I miss my family so much!I miss my mom, my dog, my sister, my dad ... everything. Sometimes though I actually miss the way things were, you know like still having mom cook for you and stuff. Honestly, sometimes I really do miss highchool. I miss my dance team, I would say, more than anything! For an english assignment,our class had to write a very descriptive paper on a place we have visited and describe it in such a way that emotions are conveyed directly. I chose to write about the Milk House. I knoe you're probably thinking, well what does that have to do with dancing? Here is a copy of my paper; hopefully it'll answer all your questions!

Wide World of Sports: The Milk House

The Milk House is a place where dancers from all around the nation showcase exactly what they have been working so diligently on. It is a black wooden floor where each step, each count, and each position matters. From the chanting crowds, to the rumbling music, the excitement is like none other. The satisfaction after a great performance is overwhelming. The chance to visit, participate, and actively compete is a memory that I will forever be able to look back on and describe perfectly. I will recall to you the arrival, the performance, and the aftermath of the 2005/2006 visit to the Universal Dance Association National Dance Team Championships, held at the Milk House.
The morning of February 2nd was one we had been looking forward to for quite some time. The Father Lopez Dancing Greenwaves practiced through the summer, during football season, and deep into the long competitive months of January and February, for this moment and this moment only. We met in the school cafeteria with all our suitcases and belongings, prepared for a long yet rewarding weekend in Orlando. This weekend, we all knew, was what we had been working toward for so long. It would be our chance to uphold our name, the name previous generations worked so hard to build. It was our chance to become National Champions. We all felt the energy, that anticipation that makes your heart race, and we gladly fed off each other’s. After leaving the swarm of students, faculty, and parents cheering as we pulled away in our little yellow school bus, we knew that the competition had officially begun. We pulled into Disney’s Wide World of Sports, after a long 2 hour drive, and immediately checked in, knowing we still had practice tonight and a nap was first on the list. According to Dawn Henthorn from http://goflorida.about.com/cs/disneyworld/a/wdw_wwsports.htm, “The 200 acre sports complex can host more than 30 sports from aerobics to wrestling and all the "balls" in between. It's impressive facilities include classrooms, office space and media facilities, and serves as headquarters for sporting events taking place throughout the Walt Disney World Resort.” Not only did we get a first look at the Milk House but also of the other teams, whom we would be competing against. Check in was where we finally made eye contact with our competitors. They walked by us in lines just as straight as ours and that same energy seemed to spill out, the way sweat did after a six-hour practice. We smiled and wished every team good luck, keeping in mind that the judges could be anywhere. The officials were welcoming, yet intimidating. They wished each team the best as they left the brief information session held in the famous small blue tent outside the Milk House itself. The blue tent had printed pictures of the previous years’ National Champions in every category and we knew we were destined to be printed on next year’s tent. We walked back into the bus and rode off into the next two days of practice-in-the-parking lot.
February 4th finally arrived. Dancers woke up early for hair and makeup, ESPN began preparing their cameras before the sun even rose, and the judges collected the last of their criteria sheets. The National Dance Team Championship was about to be held at the Milk House and parents, aunts, uncles, grandmas, and friends, were looking forward to it. Seeing from <http://www.florida-themepark-tickets.com/disney-wide-world-of-sport.htm>, “This huge and impressive complex hosts 170 amateur and professional events each year. Time and again, athletes are gathered here to compete, amidst an eye-catching setting dominated by world-class facilities. In fact, all sporting events associated with Walt Disney World Resort are held here”, we can see why everyone was excited. We had been trying to explain to the first year members how the Milk House could not be compared to the typical dance studio, gym floor, or performance stage. The Milk House is a 34, 000 square foot arena with a full-size black top wooden floor, surrounded by auditorium seating. The judges are seated on an elevated portion of the arena, therefore making it easier for them to see the routine as a whole, but more importantly, notice even the smallest mistakes. The new dancers could now experience the Milk House first hand. Once the prop division had been called and our name was announced, we lined up, set our props and froze in our beginning positions. The very moment the music blared out of the speakers, the anticipation, excitement, and thrill rushed out of our ecstatic yet sharp bodies. Looking out into the crowd, you saw a sea of green and white, our school colors. The ESPN cameras whirled past each dancer, zooming in and zooming out, while our facial expressions conveyed the confidence we all held as a team. The two big screen TV’s on each side of the competition floor lit up with our close-up shots. Each count was on, each spot was marked, and each smile withstood the test of time. When the last beat was hit, we made sure the ending did as well. The Milk House roared, and we held our position in complete satisfaction. We nailed it.
Backstage, all we wanted was to see our coach. After every performance, it was her that gave the final and lasting opinion. While passing the other competitors, we checked and analyzed their props, all different yet all with the same goal. We pushed our props toward the back where a couple of our dads were waiting. It was them, our parents, that spent hours building, painting, and perfecting our props. We didn’t pay to get our props built. We didn’t consider painting props a part of art class. Our parents spent hours after long days at work making our props. The appreciation could not even be expressed into words. Those that did have dads backstage ran and embraced them with sincere gratitude. The rest of our parents were out in the mass of green and white awaiting our visit before awards. Our coach, Kathy Blais, finally made her way through the crowd and backstage. She was overjoyed and crying, and it was then and there that we just knew we were National Champions; all that was needed was the trophy to affirm our winnings. We huddled in the middle of the hall and cried as a team, with a bond that we cherished more than any National Championship, and a coach that was more like a second mother. Although at times we hated her, she knew what was best for us as a team but also as young ladies. She was there to tell us when to point our toes as well as when to keep our mouths shut. She was a strong, straightforward, and determined woman that instilled her values and virtues in “her girls.” After what seemed to be a public “boohoo ball”, we made our way out into the arena where our family, friends, and former Dancing Greenwaves would be waiting. Every seat in the Milk House was taken. The sight was astounding! What seemed to be two seconds after we made our way through the crowd, every so often thanking spectators for their compliments, the announcement for the awards came over the very loud loud speaker. We gave all the appreciation we could and waved as we made our way back down to the floor where it all started.
The countdown began immediately after all the participating teams sat around the large table of trophies in the middle of the Milk House. The crowd silenced as it came down to the top three teams in the nation. That anticipation and nervous feeling caused us to tighten our grip as we, one of many teams sitting in the Milk House desperate for that 1st place trophy, held hands. It was down to the top two teams in the nation and the ESPN cameras were zooming back and forth. The winning team would get National Dance Team Championship rings, an ESPN private room interview, a beautiful trophy, but most importantly, the white jacket. A white silky jacket is presented to the winning team engraved with the year of the victory as well as “National Dance Team Champion” printed right above it. The Father Lopez Dancing Greenwaves proudly became the 2005 /2006 Naional Dance Team Champions! The Milk House went wild and it felt as if everyone was swimming in a sea of green and white, while chants just got louder and louder. ESPN cameras flew by and cameras began snapping every which way. We where famous!
Looking back now, I wonder if I realized how lucky I was to be part of such an amazing team. Together we went through long practices and together we made it to the Milk House! Not only did we make it there once but the next year, whose picture was on the blue tent? The Father Lopez Dancing Greenwaves! The experience as a whole is one that I will recall time and time again with every detail and every specific aspect. I am a Father Lopez Dancing Greenwave and will be one forever! The Milk House, how it rumbled with cheers and chants, how the stage was so long yet such a short time was spent on it, and how the music blared out into the large three-story arena, will always be remembered and cherished.

Well? How was it? Writing this paper really helped me let my emtions out, even if it was through words.Blogging I can see is kind of the same way. Well I really have to go study, I have a math test ughhhhh! Sorry about such a delay but this makes up for the past three weeks :)! see you soon!

USF vs. UCF ... honestly!

Well, I only have 200 words left of the last blog to make it the necessary 500 so I'm about to blog about the football game ... that is the UCF vs. USF football game! Honestly, there was no competition AT ALL! I woke up early on Saturday morning and got ready with one of my sisters Shareen and we waiting for another one of my sisters to come pick us up from the Tri Delta house. We where going to tailgate for a little then go into the game so we could get some good seats! WE GOT FRONT ROW ... only because one of our sisters' dad somehow has connections ... I don't know! IT WAS AMAZING! I had been to hmmm 2 other Usf football games, but not for the whole game and not in the very front row! Not only where we able to get on t.v. but we where able to meet some of ther players haha! We had this man dress in leopard fabric with a sign that said Beating UCF: So easy a caveman can do it hahaha so it was very easy for us to get in a lot of pictures and on t.v.! I had soooo much fun and I'm def. going in early and sitting front row! After the game we all took naps! I woke up walked into the bathroom and looked at my body ... it was ALL BURNT! i got so red and we all had comp. pictures the next day! OH WELL! That night a bunch of us went out and had a blast ... another fight with BOB but whatever ...! I had a blast with my sisters and I love them forever! oh and p.s. for my comp. pictures ... i had to basically cover my whole body in MAC liquid and powder foundation haha!

I just don't get it!

ok, so I know the last blog was is the same date as todays but im making up for the two weeks my computer crashed ... honestly ... ask my sisters. I was having to walk from room to room to use a computer. It was very annoying! So, I picked the color blue today because I will be blogging about boys. Honestly, I DON'T GET IT! I always go running with my sister Ashtin and we always talk about boys in the process of walking to the track and on our way back. See, we agree that a boy isn't a boy I guess unless he plays a sport, preferably football ... but we figured something out! Football boys can be so ... mean? I don't know. I talking to a football player right now ... "talking". What is that? Well, I asked him. The first response was that he didn't want to argue with me about it .... ok. The next time I asked him he said he had been acting weird because i was rushing things! I am NOT rushing things! I mean I'm sorry if I want to know if you're talking to other girls and where you are when you said we where going to meet me somewhere! ughhhhhh! Ashtin dates a football player that goes to FAU. She always talks about how she knows that they're perfect for eachother ... I just want to cry! :( She thinks my football boy is just not wanting a relationship ... but yet he wants to hangout all the time and when I dont text him he'll kind sorta freak. I DO NOT GET IT! When I bring up the topic ... he quickly changes the subject! Let me tell you what he does ... ok? Well, my sisters and I decided to go out one night ... I needed it! As I'm walkign down stairs I see ... we have to give him a code name - bob - ... bob's bestfriend walking into the Tri Delta house. His bestfriend is also "talking" to one of my sisters. He sees me and immediately asks where bob is and I answer ... "I DON'T KNOW AND I DON'T CARE!" Well he ends up calling bob and tells him im going out ... BOBGETS ON A BUS AND GOES TO THE PLACE I HAD DECIDED TO GO TO .......... WITH ANOTHER GIRL UUGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I only found this our because one of my sisters took the bus he was on and text me and told me! I was soooooooo angry! Basically, I saw him there, I ignored him, and he ended up texting me. He wanted me to meet him up at the balcony! I tried so hard to ignore it and be strong but I met him there. We talked and damn it always seems like I forgive him for whatever right when I see him! We danced and well I was getting tired and I walked out of the crowd with him. My sister Courtney called me and i truned around to answer her BECAUSE I HAD COME WITH HER! I turn around and HE IS GONE! He left with that GROSS GIRL ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! The club was closing and I did not know where anyone was!!!!! I started crying because thats also what I do when I'm stressed out! I ran into the elevator and saw the guy that always lets the tri delts in vip and thats where alllllll my sisters where. I ran in and found Courtney ... her boy ditched her too!!! WHATEVER! We went home and well I cried a lot. The next morning I went to the gym with one of my bff's, who will bve rushing tr delt in the spring, and I told her everything! She could not believe him and I promised her and myself that I was done talking to him. We then decided to go to Subway before our class started and whad ya know .............. here come BOB walking by. He walks up to the table we're sitting at moves my leg and goes "whats up?" ........... UM NO! I said "I'm sorry but I'm not talking to you right now." He got up and walked to his next class ..... to bad i saw him standing behind me waiting until I got up and walked to my next class ... BUT NO! I turn around and he's talking to that gross girl again ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! I rran inside the classroom before I started crying. I spent the whole nest class texting him because ... well we where fighting! SEE .... I DON'T GET IT! When someone says "they're talking" what is that? It's just really confusing and it makes it worse when the "bob" you're talking to is born a confucing person! ughhh I'm gonna go for run now, even though I shouldn't be.

Paint Job .... Take 2

ughhhh! The week of Oct. 1st started out awful! I got a phone call from my mom telling me that I would be responsible for painting my old apartment back to the color it was prior to the BEAUTIFUL pink and zebra stripes! Number one, I thought it looked cute! Number two, I am not a painter. Number three, I really had to begin getting ready for Delta Premier! Delta Premier is an even hosted by all the older sister. It is a social where all the new baby sisters get introduced to the invited public! The attire is Homecoming attire ... dresses and cute shoes ... with amazing jewelry! OK anyway, I STILL DIDN'T HAVE JEWELRY! One of my sisters and I decided to go and get started on the apartment. First, we went to Walmart ... that was interesting. The man that was in charge of the paint area did not know what he was talking about! His eyes were all red and glazed ... don't ask me! We got our paint and went over to the little boys section to get white button-up shirts for yet another planned social. The next social was going to be Graffiti! This is when you go out to a club with a bunch of your sisters, you're invited by a frat., wearing a white shirt, and everyone gets the chance to sign whatever they want on it! So, we got our shirts and headed to the register and paid. As we're walking out we see the huddle of men sitting outside Walmart asking for money ... we ran fast. We got in the car and headed over to my old apartment. Now, like i;ve told you before, my old roommates are very very very mean. On the dry erase board hanging on the wall in front of the front door there was "Celebrating all week because Nicky is gone" ......... i felt very incomfortable! We quickly unlocked the door to my room and started priming! I had paint all over me and we had just began! I started getting silly and began jumping on the bed, where I had put the off-white color that would be going on on top of the primer. I continued jumping UNTIL the can flipped over and landed on the carpet ... upside down!!!! My sister started laughing and i almosyt started crying! We flipped it rightside up and started scooping, scrubbing, and patting! It was useless! We called another one of our sisters to see what she thought we should do. We ended up having to go get shampoo, scrubbing buubbles, and a rag ... which was priginally my shirt. We used water and we scrubbed! After what seemed to be an hour of scrubbing, we heard a knock on the door. I was a janitor ... at 11:30 at night ... can we help you sir??? Anway he said there was leaking downstairs from my room ..........! OH GOODNESS! The water we had been using was leaking down to the apartment under us! I was stressing out and when I'm stressed I call my mom. Well, she yelled at me! UGHHHH I didn't know what to do! My mom said since I was stressing out I should just take a break ... to bad it was 11:30! My sister and I decided to go back to the house. When we walked in our sisters laughed at us and we laughed too! We told them the story and it just seemed to help ... just letting it out and laughing about it!

The past 2 weekends ... summed up in 1 blog entry!

The weekend of 9-17-07:
This past weekend, I would have to say was the best EVER! I had the best time of my life! I went to Gainsville fo rthe first time loved it! I left Friday afternoon at around 4:30 and we got there at around 6. By we I mean 2 of my other sisters and I. We stayed at a Kappa Delta's house. Her name was Brittany and she went to highschool with one of my sisters that came down with me. My bestfriend from highschool met up with us at Brittanys house and she brought the cutest girl ever named Kim. All of us went out to eat at this delicious Mexican resturant. The food was amazing! After dinner, we decided to go out for the night and see what Gainsville was all about! We visited many Greek houses, including frat. houses haha! The houses there cannot even be compared to those at USF ... they put ours to ULTIMATE shame! We went to bed a little late, but that did not stop us from getting up early for tailgating! It was GREAT! We didn't get to go into the game ... none pf us had tickets ... but we did go watch it back at Brit's house. I fell asleep ... but i was awake for the win! Anyway, after that we went to go visit the Tri Delta house at UF and once again, no comparison please! I t was gorgeous! I loved UF and I loved spending time with my sisters and and bestfriend! A BULLS game is coming soon and I'll soon be showing my bff's how TAMPA does it! yay! :)))

The weekend of 9-24-07:
Wow, this weekend was and interesting one! Well long story short ... I'm moving into tho Tri Delta house, in Greek Village, on campus! I don't really want to get into details, but my roomates just were not nice at all! Luckily, that made it capable for me to break my lease. I was, and am, very happy to be in the Tri Delta house! The girls are all so welcoming and always there to help. Some of the frat. boys even helped bring some of my things upstairs. I'm still in the process of getting all my stuff moved in and it def. seems like an endless one. Right now I'm living with one of my pledge sisters who is very nice but just not my type. Hopefully, I will be able to just change rooms and live with another one of my sisters named Courtney ... I LOVE HER! She is also trying to break her lease so that she come move into the house, with me! We want to paint our room pink and just have pink everywhere! Not even joking, shes from my home town ... well near there, and we didn't even know it! I'm so excited and so glad i met her! Ok, well I'm going to go study!

Weekend!

Just a reminder before I begin ... The Hills is on TONIGHT! Anyway, I decided to go home this past weekend again! Although, this time i went with one of my sisters. On outrway to the 386, we decided to make a stop at Millenia! My sister and I shopped a little at Express, Urban Outfitters, and Juicy. It was so fun, except for the fact that I had a horrible headache ... which we figured out was the cause of my low sugar level! After buying myself a diet coke, we were headed home! The rain was insane and the traffic was even worse. We listen to music and danced the whole way there. Our plan was to drop me off at my house for the night, spend a little time with the fam. , then head to Jacksonville for one of my sisters bestfriends' birthday party. It was going to be soooooooo FUN! Wait! I forgot to tell you Friday!!!! I got my big sister! Her name is Brittany and she is amazing! She was my silver sister and luckily became my BIG! Ok ... we'll talk more about her a little later. So, I get dropped off, my sister meets my family, and they love her! I knew they would! She heads off to her home, and I finally get to spend time with my family! We ended up watching some movie, but i dont really remember what it was. Usually my sister gets to pick, because she's spoiled, and we end up watching some cartoon blah blah! I love her though. The next morning, I woke up early and ran my usual route, 3 miles over the bridge. In the middle of my run it rained! I got wet, but I kept running! I got home and my mommy gave my some lunch and she soon had to go pick up my grandma from the airport. My sister would be picking me up very soon so I knew i would not be seeing my mom until Thanksgiving ... MY BIRTHDAY! I hugged her and hugged my little sister and they left. :(!!! I sat on the coach, watched how bad Notre Dame was getting killed and soon enough Kirstie, my sister, came!!! We were off to J-ville! Long story short, the "birthday party" was horrible! There were barely any people there and well, I was bored! Finally, WE LEFT! We got back to her house at around 10:30 ... the USF game had already been on! We sat on the coach and CHEERED!!! GO BULLS!!! Honestly, it was so much fun! We were freaking out when the many interceptions occured and when the yards increased!! We danced with her little puppies, Lola being my favorite! She was a pug! Well, duh, we ending up winning!!!!! YAY! On Sunday, my sister and I layed out all day by the pool! Her parents were having a cook out and well, i basically met her whole family. The food was delicious but soon enough, we had to go. I had a chapter meeting at 9 ... or at least thats what I thought! For some starnge reason, my sis and decided to leave a little early ... LUCKILY! Come to find out my meeting was at SIX! We went against the law and sped all the way there! I ran into my sisters apartment, showered, quickly put on a Lacoste dress ... not appropriate attire but extreme circumstances call for extreme measures ... and ran out of the house! I got to chapter on time and my BIG was there. She is assistant pledge mom ... YAY! Well, I finally got my CLIPBOARD!!!! My BIG did such a good job! It's pink, you've got to see it! After chapter, I went back to my big's place, and we watched the VMA'S with a bunch of other sisters. Brittany Spears did AWFUL ... goodness ... and basically I am obsessed with Chris Brown. I just might marry him! Ok, well, I'm gonna go now. I have other h.w. to do sooooo I'll blog again sometime soon :)!

xoxoxoxoxxooooo

LaLaLa!

hellllloooo everyone! I'm back! I'm still getting use to this blogging thing so I'm gonna go ahead and "blog" about my weekend! First of all, I'd like to say that I love my Tri Delta sisters with all my heart! They have been there for me these 2 weeks and have made the transition so much easier! OK, anyway, my sisters and I planned to go out on Friday night ... ya know ... girls night ... well that never happen! We also planned on going to the game, which would be my first USF football game, and join in on the tailgating ... but NO! It all started on friday, it was rough! I was stressing after my math class because I did not understand a thing! It's nothing new though. I've had to get tutored in math since I can remember. After class, one of my sisters picked me up ... my absolute favorite one ... KIRSTIE! We began to plan for the weekend, out on Friday night, game on Saturday, pool on Sunday, and shopping on Monday. AH, perfect cure to my miserable day ... NOT! Mom, my sister, and our precious dog, all decided to come get be and bring me back home for the weekend. Well, I mean, I was happy to see my mom, but I wanted to be with my sisters this weekend! Mom told me she had planned dinner, a shopping trip, and our usual beach date. I had to go or else I would just feel horrible ... and I missed LuLu ... and my seven year old sister too ... i guess! We finally made it home and luckily my dad made it back in town from Miami too! We had a small family reunion, I did some reading on the religions of the world ... boring... , and I went to bed. The next morning, news got out that I was in town! YAY! First i met up with my good friends, who are now seniors in highschool, and we beached it ... we went to the beach! Sadly, it rained and the lifeguard was ugh gross! We went to TGIFRIDAYS, a ritual for us, and we were off to Jessica's house. Ok, Jessica is my ex-boyfriends sister, yeah I know real weird. She dances, I dance, we dance together ... ya get my drift. Went over there, baked brownies ... my fav. ... and watched Anchorman. OF COURSE ... David, my ex boyfriend walks in ... ew I'm not going to go on ... he was just rude, another argument, and I left ... THE END! So, that night the girls and I decided to go out with the boys that my friends work with. They work at Takaya, a Japanese steakhouse, my bff's are not Japanesse though. We end up going out with a group of Japanese people that I do not even know. I was a little uncomfortable but i sucked it up. We get to Razzles, where dancing is a must! I love to dance ... just a reminder ...TO BAD EVERYONE WAS SO SKETCHY THERE! One guy was telling me he was from New York ... ok? Another one proceeded to talk to me with his shirt half off .... WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? GOODNESS! Honestly ... it was gross! It smelled, it was hot, and the people were ewww! We went back to the house and mom started to lecture ... I'M IN COLLege NOW MOM! Before I could say those words, I realized that all she was trying to tell me was that she missed me! Ugh! I felt bad again! I came down to spend time with my family and I had been with my friends the whole time. The rest of the weekend I spent with the fam.! I went to a friends house one night, but only because she's already getting married and I HAD to see her dress! Mom and I went to lunch, did a little shopping, but most importantly ... we caught up on the events we had not shared with eachother. I mean, I didnt get the time I wanted with my sorority sisters but I got to spend time with the family, but most importantly my mommy! Well, thats all for tonight I have to read about the religions of the world again tonight ... yay! :(!