Game cancelled

thehebrewhammerLeave a comment

I came to school excited, first game of the season, baseball finally here, it was time. But rain decided otherwise, many days hoping it would stop, the rain kept coming, running poles in the rain with coach Hank, and getting 4 new players to brighten our spirits. None of this mattered because the game got cancelled, and then it was a break; we were cutting cold turkey because there was nothing to do. It was a break next week, and we have no practice. Hank said we need to go watch “game film” in the seminar room. So I’m sooooo excited to do that with him. We might just play that stupid tennis ball off the wall game we did last time, which was immensely boring. It made my arm hurt. All in all, I’m very excited to play baseball this year and share the field with everyone. We move like a pack of brothers, like a pack of wolves out on that diamond, I’m telling everyone when we’re coming, cause we come HARD.

pc: Avery Colborn – On The Hill

Ojai Odaiko

thehebrewhammerLeave a comment

On Tuesday, the school was given the pleasure of going to Lower Campuses GAC to watch an hour’s worth of beautifully played drums by Gavino and the Ojai Odaiko.

I didn’t know what to think of it at first because I saw them once when I was younger, and they were all uncoordinated, and I wasn’t impressed. But yesterday the sound those recycled wine barrels made shook my heart and elevated me on the Lunar New Year. 

When Gavino would scream and repeatedly hit those drums with all his strength, I couldn’t help but smile and sit up in my seat. As good as Gavino was, my favorite was this tiny lady who played the gong. Man, do I love hearing that gong go gong. It just brightens my day up. It’s the best instrument ever created. 

All in all, my experience of being provided a listening to the great Ojai Odaiko changed my life forever, I fell in love, it was love at first listen for sure.

Also, when they were finished, I stood up to give them a standing ovation, but no one stood with me, so it was embarrassing, but I don’t care.

I love Ojai Odaiko!

pc: google

Bye Bye Rams

thehebrewhammerLeave a comment

Today, I bear bad news: the Los Angeles Rams have lost the NFC Championship to the Seattle Seahawks.

It was a heartbreaking loss as in the final seconds, the MVP frontrunner Rams quarterback Matt Stafford threw a beautiful ball to OPOY candidate Puka Nacua, and as he slid out of bounds to give the Rams one second left of play. But as his majestic, beautiful Gazelle-like body landed with the ball, the refs deemed Puka out of bounds, making the Rams lose the NFC championship. 

It was a very sad moment, and now Davante Adams, who had a beautiful first year in LA, is 0-6 in the NFC Championship.

I believe that Stafford has another year in him, and with our young defense and promising offense, we can make another push for the conference title and hopefully Super Bowl 61.

With the Rams facing devastating defeat in the playoffs again, I think there is no shot for the Patriots to overtake the Seahawks in Levi’s Stadium.

I guess there is only one way to find out, and that is to wait and see, poor Rams, but there is always next year!

pc: google

Instagram

ackley4167Leave a comment

Lately, I’ve noticed how much Instagram and social media are part of everyday life at school. Many of my friends are trying to build their pages and grow their followings. They spend a lot of time choosing the right photos, editing them, and posting at certain times.

It’s interesting to watch because it almost feels like everyone is learning how social media works. At the same time, they’re still in high school. Some people post reels, follow trends, and even help each other by liking and sharing posts to boost engagement. A few of my friends even talk about becoming influencers someday.

At the same time, social media can change how people see things. Sometimes it feels like people care a lot about how moments look online, not just how they actually are. Instagram isn’t just an app anymore; it’s become a big part of how people connect and present their lives. Especially when it comes to college. That is everybody’s first impression of you and who you are.

“Instagram Socialmedia” by Freestocks.org/ CC0 1.0

Acceptance and Rejection

zombiegxrlLeave a comment

With the month of March comes college acceptance/rejection decisions. I’ve always said to myself and others that the rejections won’t affect me because I’ll make the best of wherever I end up. This positive outlook has changed a bit since then. I got my first true rejection last week. Not a deferment, and not a waitlist. A true, solid rejection. UC Davis apologized for not being able to offer me admission because of their large and competitive applicant pool. Since I first toured the campus of UC Davis I’ve been preaching that it just isn’t the place for me. Cow country, surrounded by the relentlessly hot and barren central California, just isn’t my top choice for the next four years of my life. Besides, I already got into UC Santa Cruz where I’d love to attend because of the beautiful campus and its equally gorgeous surroundings. Despite all this, I still felt the heavy weight of disappointment when I read the first sentence of my rejection letter. Although I didn’t want to go, I still wanted to be accepted. I wanted the validation that my hard work throughout high school was enough to get me into Davis. Sadly, this validation wouldn’t be fulfilled by Davis, and won’t be fulfilled by many other colleges as rejections continue to roll in. I’m glad I received my first rejection from a school I didn’t have my heart set on, because then my disappointment might’ve swallowed me whole. I guess I’ve learned that I’ll need to provide my own validation now, because the world is too tough to cushion every landing.

PC- Google

Changes

brownbeansLeave a comment

Do you ever look back at old memories and actually see how much you’ve changed? While we are living in the moment, we don’t notice the changes happening. Slowly, our hair grows out, our friends come and go, and we are completely different people.

As I was making my (very beautiful) senior page, I was going through memories I had forgotten about. I saw old friends, some I wish were still in my life, others I wish I had dropped sooner. But they were all learning experiences that helped me grow into who I am now.

I found pictures of my middle school friend and me. We moved to different high schools but were still close in our freshman year. At one point, she was my whole world. But the distance grew between us, and we slowly drifted apart. I think I blocked her on social media.

Some things never change, though. My best friend, my weird hair, my love for cute water bottles, and my fondness for my friends. I can’t wait to go to college and change up my environment again. I’ll miss this boring, predictable school.

credit: Pinterest

College pt. 5 mil

myfatcats2Leave a comment

Going to college genuinely terrifies me, not like it terrifies everyone else. When I think of college, a huge drop happens in my stomach. Don’t get me wrong Im excited, I have a Pinterest for my dorm room and stuff. However, I don’t do well with change, and I think that’s something I need to work on with myself. I have a system of how things are now, where I’m surrounded by everyone I love, and they are just a few steps away. When I go to college, that will be different. I’m worried about how well I can live without my mom, and I know this sounds childish, but she has been my person through everything that I have gone through. I’m scared to be away from her, because this is a new chapter in my life where I won’t have her around as much anymore, and that brings tears to my eyes as I write this. Also, I think that I’m overthinking this way too much. But at the same time, I’m scared, and I’m sad. I think about this so often, but I also understand that I’m getting ahead of myself a bit. I spiral and think about how life is so short, and then we die, and that’s just it. (unless you believe in heaven and hell, which I don’t) So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m nervous, scared, excited, and sad to see and start this new chapter of my life.

PC – Google

Miami Vs LAFC

Soccer11Leave a comment

This saturday im going to a Miami vs LAFC, which has some of my favorite soccer players like Messi and Son. One of my biggest dreams has been to see Messi play, and I finally get to do so this Saturday. I’m going with my siblings, who also love soccer, but they definitely do not as much as I do. This might be my only chance to see him play soccer because he might be retiring soon, and i dont have enough money to go to the World Cup, which he is playing in, in the summer. He’s always been one of my idols, and I can’t wait to see him and his teammates finally play. I really hope they beat LAFC because I’m a LA Galaxy fan and they’re really big rivals. I’m so surprised my dad was able to get tickets because by this time, they usually sold out. I’m really excited, and I can’t wait to see the best soccer player in the world play. 

PC= Google

When Stress Becomes a Personality

ackley4167Leave a comment

Since school has started, I’ve felt nothing but stress and pressure, and all I want is a break. It seems like the breaks school gives us are never long enough. It always feels like dread. Having to get home from school at 5 pm. Then worry about having to do homework, take a shower, and eat dinner. It all becomes a routine. A routine that feels weird not to do, like on Fridays. To me, the weekend is only one day. Friday we have school, but still the best day of the “weekend”. Saturdays are our only full day without having to worry about anything except dreading Sunday. And Sunday is the worst day of the week. The defeat of realizing that the weekend is over. Having to repeat that whole routine that you just got a 2-day break from. Then on Monday, the whole process repeats. You’re stressing about assignments that are due. Your stress is making you treat others poorly, but there’s nothing you can do except follow that routine. You want to try to balance a social life while being good at school, so you try, and you fail. You pick being social over studying, and the next day you bomb your exam. Now you don’t want to be social. You want to study, but you have FOMO about your friends and what they could be doing. It feels like nothing is enough. Weekends are the time to socialize, but why do we only have a day? It feels like my life is repeating itself over and over again, and there’s no escape.

PC: Google

Blurb and Thoughts

Bl@ckBe@nsLeave a comment

Credit: Pintrest

I swear, when I don’t have a blog to write, I have some good ideas, but when it’s time actually to write one, my brain blanks. I would always do another movie review, but I don’t really have one in mind right now. Ten Things – I can’t think of ten things to like or hate at the moment. 

I also have to make it 150 words. Although I find it difficult, once I really get into my blog, I sometimes exceed the word limit. Like right now, the more words I can think about, the higher my word count gets, so all I need to do is think of words to use, like supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Now that’s a fun word to say. 

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, I just searched up what it means. It does have a meaning; I thought it was a fun word to say that came out of a Disney movie. Anyway, I have reached and surpassed the word limit.