I give thanks for...

Yes, I give thanks for more than food. Family, friends, and the beauty that surrounds me every day, for example. The food was really good though. :)

priceless.

I was watching a movie tonight and the commercials beforehand were especially stupid.

One was for one of those middle school girl clique movies and had the best line in it I think I've ever heard.

It went a little something like this:

Snotty clique girl: "Did I invite you to my bbq?"
Regular girl: "Umm...no?
Snotty clique girl: "Then why are you all up in my grill?"

These are 12-year-old white girls speaking, just to clear up any confusion. Best line ever.

a long time coming...

Last Saturday was a big day for me and my soccer team. We played in the state final match for our division against Valley Catholic at Wilsonville High School. And we won!

It was a really fun game to play in and from what I've heard from others is that it was a fun game to watch. The final score was 2-0, giving us a season record of 18-0-1.

People keep asking me, "How does it feel to be a state champion?". My answer is usually this: "It feels great!" And I mean that very much. I feel so privileged to be a member of this team and to have been able to play with this group of girls. It is a little bittersweet though.

I have been playing with most my teammates since I was in first grade, especially the other seniors. It's sad for me to think about never being able to wear that gold jersey again or be a part of our crazy dress-up days. But when I think about it more rationally, I realize that this was the best possible way to end my high school career.

Happy Birthday to me...

Today is my eighteenth birthday! The big 1-8. I don't really get to celebrate it until this weekend due to massive amounts of homework, but I did get a couple birthday gifts and surprises.

I woke up early this morning and was sung the Danish version of "Happy Birthday" by my exchange student from Denmark. It's way cuter than our version, if you were wondering. My present from my parents was a new camera, the new Canon PowerShot. I got to break it in this afternoon at school when I went to my car and found it completely decorated by my best friends.

I hadn't really thought about it until today, but there are many, many things I can legally do now that I couldn't before. So in the spirit of my special day, I thought I would make a list of a few of my new-found legal freedoms. (this is not my personal to-do list)

1. Vote (I missed the 2008 presidential elections by just a little bit! Darn! Next time for sure though...)



2. Buy cigarettes and other tobacco products.



3. Sign myself out of class without a parent.



4. Serve alcohol in some restaurants.



5. Work as a cashier at a grocery store.



6. Be tried as an adult for committing a crime.



7. Get in to 18 and over clubs.



8. Buy lottery tickets.



9. Go sky-diving.



10. Sign my own permission slips for school.

Of course there are tons of others, but the main idea is that I am now considered an adult by law. Let me know if I'm missing some good ones though. :)

my war wounds...

These are my bruises after my Tuesday game. I'm pretty proud of them. :]

Breaking the Curse

Soccer is the only sport that I am legitimately good at. I've been playing since I was 5 years old and have loved every minute of it. This fall is my last season of high school soccer, and more importantly, this week is my last week of it.

At Philomath High, our girls soccer team has been very skilled for several years. This year, our team is exceptional. That may be a biased opinion since I am a member of the team but I'll let our stats speak for themselves. Our record for this year is 17-0-1, meaning we're undefeated in league and playoff games.

In the past, we've gone to the playoffs regularly and been successful until the quarterfinal or semifinal matches. Then we would get knocked out of the tournament by teams like Oregon Episcopal, Catlin Gabel, or Hidden Valley. Not this year.

Yesterday afternoon, we faced Oregon Episcopal School in the semifinal match at Philomath High School. We battled it out in the rain and mud for 90 minutes. In the first half, Philomath scored off a header goal by center forward Sierra Grunwald, leaving the score 1-0 at half-time. A few sconds into the second half, Philomath scored again, this time from Sadi Stouder with a shot from about 30 yards from the goal. Philomath's defense was very effective at shutting down OES's offensive pressure and starting the attack for Philomath from the back. Another goal in the second half for Philomath sealed the deal and the game ended with a score of 3-0.

My team and I were ecstatic. We kept saying things like, "We just made history! We NEVER get past semis!" or "We're either going to be first or second in state!". Although we were very excited, those statements are true. We broke the curse and made it past the semifinals. On Saturday, we'll be able to fight for our chance to win state.

(photo by Lisa Watkins, Philomath against Westside Christian)

I. Love. Fall.

As my close friends and family already know, fall is my absolute favorite. I love everything about the season and I decided that I would share some of my seasonal bliss with y'all to make sure you're living this fall to its fullest.

Now, I wrote you a to-do list, but I don't want to hear any complaints because these are all wonderfully fun, and you can pick and choose your favorites.

1. Go to a pumpkin patch. Look around and don't stop until you've found the right one. Believe me, you'll know it when you see it. Make sure you take your rubber boots and a towel to wipe off your pumpkin with. That should make your trip home a little less messy. Carving it is optional, but I definitely encourage it.


2. Spend at least a half hour in a coffee shop. In my opinion, coffee shops are at their finest during this time of the year. They are usually decorated for the season and feature seasonal drinks such as pumpkin spice lattes, chai spice lattes, caramel hot chocolates, and many delicious others.


3. Go to a football game. Nothing says fall like a good game of football. College games are my favorite to watch, but you can settle for high school if you like. I'm not even that big of a football fan, but there's something about it that feels right during October and November. So bundle up and bring something cushy to sit on top of the stadium seat.


4. Find a good book to read. When it's pouring outside and I'm feeling lazy, my natural inclination is to curl up on the couch with a mug of cocoa, a blanket, and a really good book. If you don't have a book picked out, just ask me. I can definitely recommend a few... "Twilight" anyone?
5. Get out and enjoy the colors. This year, the Willamette Valley has been blessed with the loveliest foliage I have ever seen. Some say it's because we had such a dry September and October. At any rate, it's almost criminal to stay indoors when there is so much beauty right outside. My suggestions are to go for a hike or a walk if you can catch a few minutes without being poured on. Mary's Peak is especially beautiful right now because you can see all the Philomath leaves changing.
6. Go for a drive. Gas prices are down for the moment, so you have no excuse to say no. Jump in the car with a few friends or family members and just drive out to the country. Go somewhere that you've never been before and enjoy the scenery along the way. Last weekend, my parents and I stumbled across a little town called Oakland, Oregon. It had a beautiful historic inn with a real soda fountain, an old icehouse, and of course, several antique stores. It was a very pleasant surprise and was surrounded by some beautiful country too.
7. Listen to some mood music. Now don't laugh, but for some reason The Mama's and The Papa's make up a large portion of my seasonal soundtrack. Throw in some songs from Band of Horses, Billie Holiday, Radiohead, Death Cab for Cutie and you've got yourself a perfect playlist. Of course, you're not limited to my picks.
8. Enjoy the food. Fall means harvest which consequently, means great fruits and vegetables are in season. Apples are at the top of my list because they're perfect right now. Try to cook or bake with the produce that's in season. Apple pie or apple crisp is a must.

As much as I wish it would, this fall won't last forever. So go enjoy it! And I promise, I'm not this obsessive about the other seasons of the year...