This is a First.

Ok, it's been WAY too long since I blogged. It's been a busy December and I can't believe that it's almost Christmas! Something I have enjoyed the most about this December is how much I have been able to sing. I love singing and it has been so fun to share my talents with others, whether with my family, in church, or in C-Choir. (alto pride). Swimming has also been going really great we are winding down the season with one month left--I've been working hard, and dropping time. (Which is a plus!) School has been overwhelming but I tried to hang in there and focus before the break. My history teacher claims she is a swear word in our vocabulary already--so she decided to give us some sweet bookwork over the break. (AW Sodders!) This week I got my license... I bet you thought that would never happen! But it did and now I'm official... (just stay off the roads, please.) Now-- The long-awaited Christmas Vacation! Yes! Freedom! But here I am on a Sunday night doing nothing. Usually I would be frantically finishing some homework assignment due tomorrow, or trying to catch up on some sleep before another big swimming day. Tonight I have been plunking out fun Broadway songs on the piano, listening to John Mayer and not worrying about the Sodders homework. (it's not due until January 5th which seems ages away! ) I don't have anything to do. This hasn't happened forever. No Pressure. This is a first in a very long time. Now, what do I do?

[ Insert Clever Post Here ]

Its been a while since my last post, and don't get me wrong its not because I haven't gone on to my blog everyday--it's that I have nothing interesting, clever or witty to say. Honestly, I read my sister's blogs and laugh my pants off at the funny, and thoughtful reflections of their lives. But what do I have to reflect on? School and Swimming- and I've already done posts about those! I guess what I'm trying to figure out is what thoughtful, clever things do I have to say about life "through the sunglasses"? (which I am very tempted to change to 'goggles') So just to let you know, it's probably not going to change... in the meantime you will have to use your imagination and insert a clever post in place of my tellings of the three S's SLEEP, SWIM, and SCHOOL. And if your in the mood for a chuckle--Bryttin's blog is pretty great.

LIPSTICK ON A PIG?!

Recently, because of the election, I found out what "lipstick on a pig" meant. But this week it takes on a different meaning for me as I get ready to perform as one of the "Three Little Pigs" In Into the Woods. I know its something I have to do, but seriously- a pig nose? a pig tail? fake eyelashes? LIPSTICK ON A PIG?! Lets just say its an embarrassing job, being a pig. Luckily, my embarrassment will soon be over.

TITAN TORCH RUN

Last year, I volunteered to be on Homecoming committee and was chosen to be in charge of the torch run. (a longstanding tradition at Olympus) Last night, It all paid off as I ran into the stadium and passed the torch to the Student Body President, (and fellow torch run committee member) Weston Smith (yeah he's the one in the toga). This year, along with the torch run we (with the help of the PTA) had a parade involving lots of clubs and groups from Oly. It turned out to be such a success and I was so glad that I was a part of it. I think it has become just another tradition of Olympus Homecoming and I know it will be bigger and better next year! (and we finally won a football game)

5:30...again

(The infamous tile floor of the pool= what I look at every morning)

This week marked a momentous occasion in the life of Bailey-- I started 5:30 Swim workouts again!! It is going to take a while to get used to this new change of schedule but I am already LOVING it. I love swimming because there is a sense of accomplishment not only after practice, but after each set in the pool. Yesterday for example we did 8x200 free-- after finishing I felt like I had won a race. Everybody is so supportive and working towards the same goals. During workouts I sometimes feel sick, or tired--but when I get out of the pool it is all worth it! I feel so refreshed. This season I am hoping to work harder, improve my times, strokes, starts and turns, and be a positive teammate and leader. I will update you on how these goals are going in the middle of the season. In the meantime, Capricorn Way, leave your lights on because I'll be going to school a little earlier than usual...

Fabulous Friends

I had completely forgotten I had this picture on my camera... but I found it and thought it turned out so cute. This gives me the perfect excuse to blog about my amazing friends--

• I love the crazy things we decide to do on Saturday nights.
• I like that we all have different personalities, but somehow we all get along perfectly.
• I like that we are supportive of each other and the things we are involved in.
• I love spending time, and having good (and usually hilarious) times together.

Thanks for being the greatest... I love you all!

I Can't Believe It!

I can't believe it was a year ago tonight that Lyv was born! What would we ever do without her? There must have been no entertainment. Happy Birthday Lyvia! ( Li'l Wyvi) You're the cutest!

Marvelous Musicals

(Just thought it would only be appropriate to have Julie in the New Amsterdam theatre!)

Because of my recent involvement in the school musical, I have decided to compile a list of my favorite musicals. There are so many that I love! (In no specific order, because that would be too hard)

• The Lion King- It gives me the chills when Rafiki starts the Circle of Life; its just the best. In fact, I don't think I'll ever get sick of the Lion King. In fact, I want to go see it again. BAD.
  
• Hello, Dolly!- Dolly is a Sass, and Barnaby is AWESOME! You always need a little Babs.
  
• The Sound of Music- Consider anything with Julie Andrews on the list. This is such a CLASSIC, and has amazing music.
  
• Crazy for You- I love the collection of Gershwin songs.
  
• Singin' in the Rain- Gene Kelly is outstanding, and it is another one of those classics that just can't be left out.
  
• Thoroughly Modern Millie- The music in this is so clever and great to sing along to! Plus, I was in it last year and it was a blast. The hits "Forget about Your Shoes" and "What do I need with A's " were products of that show.
  
• Oklahoma- Mostly because Aunt Eller ROCKS!
  
• Wicked- Oh how I love this show. I want to see it again! I love the strong characters and the unforgettable music.
  
• Mary Poppins- Saw this on Broadway and loved all of the amazing effects and sets that this play had! It was awesome.
• Annie Get Your Gun- This is one of my all time favorites. In fact, before I die, I would like to be in it. The music is so catchy and fun to dance to. :)
• Hairspray- I've never actually seen the Broadway version, but I love the music.
• Bye, Bye Birdie- Just had to put it for 7th Grade's sake.
  
• Cinderella (R&H Version)- This brings back the memories of watching Lesley Ann Warren in what I liked to call "Make-up Cinderella" There are some classic songs in that one too.
• Aida- This show is another one that gives me the chills when I hear the music. It's so inspirational! It evokes every kind of emotion, and it has some sweet songs too.
  
• Guys and Dolls- Pretty much the same things I've said before. The music is awesome. It's another classic.

I know there are so many more but I'm having a brain cramp. All in all, Musicals are great! And who knows- maybe once Into the Woods is over I'll have a new one to add to the list!

OPERATION: Overload

So, I made it through my first week as a Junior at Olympus High School. Amazingly enough. When I got my schedule it was perfect: one day would be all of my hard (core) classes and the next would be my party classes. The first day of school was just that. Swimming, Concert Choir, Yearbook Staff... yeah you get it when I say party classes. But, then B-Day came around. Almost immediately I jumped into algebraic equations, analysis of societies, and grammar checking sentences. By the end of the day I had a headache. Plus, I'm not used to sitting for an hour and a half! I swear all of the teachers at that school must have got together and decided that on the second day of school they needed to start overloading their students with knowledge. Yes, there was the occasional disclosure statement and get to know you game, but mostly it was KNOWLEDGE OVERLOAD. I now enter my second week at the home of the titans, and I can't imagine what they've come up with this time. 

last day of summer

So I just spent one of my last nights working at the club. It's a little bittersweet to realize that summer is about to end and school is quickly approaching. And yes, I spent my last night of summer freedom watching people swim at the club. (I know... it was a small party.) While I was watching, I thought about my first day on the job and how nervous I was. I can still remember the family that was swimming, and I realized that that same family was in the pool tonight. I found it a funny coincidence, and it felt like everything had come full circle. I started with that family, and ended with them. It's been a fun summer working as a lifeguard, but I still wish that people would just clean up after themselves, not run, not hang on the rope, not hang on the diving board, and not play like they are drowning! Well-- I guess I'll have to try to work on it next summer.

Concert Going Woman

This summer I have been to three concerts-- more than ever before! Each one of them were so different from each other and SO much FUN!
In June, I went to to the "American Idol" concert where the top 10 perform. It was an awesome concert and a really fun enviroment to be in! I especially loved Brooke White! Two weeks later I went to the John Mayer and Colbie Calliat concert at USANA with Brynn. I LOVED this concert! Since then I have listened to A LOT of John Mayer. Then, two weeks after that, I went to the James Taylor concert. This was an AWESOME concert and we sat on the 6th row!!! Closer than I have EVER been. So there ya go-- this summer I have definitely been a concert going woman!

One More Picture of the Awesome SUNGLASSES!

THE Sunglasses

I thought since my sunglasses were the inspiration for this blog, it would be fitting to have the first post be about none other than the infamous lenses. Over the fourth of July, I obtained these awesome spectacles from my sister, and I've been wearing them ever since. I have spent the summer working at a neighborhood pool " The Evergreen Swim Club," and I LOVE it! I love watching the kids carefree and spunky personalities, the moms chatting, the lifeguards; it seems like everyone knows everyone! I think why I like it so much is the sense of community I feel when I'm working at the pool-- it gives me hope to know that there are still kids out there who want to play night games and go for a swim with their friends. Its not all about the video games! Four hours sitting out in the hot sun watching people swim gives me a lot of time to think, and one of the thoughts that kept running around in my head was that I should write about this summer and the experiences I've had "through the sunglasses." My family and both my sisters have been really into the blogging lately so I thought I would give it a shot. So here it goes: Here is my Life through the sunglasses!