Wednesday, June 27, 2012

UPPP DAATTEE.

ok. Ok. OK. 
I am thee world's worst blogger ever known.  I have so much to say because I never update, so this is going to be a loooongg post. 

first.
 back in april this little thing called prom happened.  
of course, i was incharge :) 
here we are saturday morning trying to string lights on a pole without tape.. 

Best friends, Shelby and Karissa. 
Went to Prom with the neighbor boy Isaac, or as I call him, sac. 

and was voted to be junior royalty!! I felt so honored. 
I have to say, prom was the best event I have ever planned.  It went exactly how I expected. Everything was in it's place.  It couldn't of gone better. 

second.
graduation.. last days of school.. 
had my last class with shuey..

graduation..

graduation parties..


SCHOOL IS OUT! 
That is the greatest feeling, no set schedule, just me.. my friends.. my family.. my camera.. and the hot muggy air. 

Summer began! Which meant my job started up again in full swing!  I am so grateful for all the opportunities that I have had this summer to shoot such gorgeous people. 
see here:  
http://justsmilepleasephotography.blogspot.com/
for latest updates.  

also, Shelby, Karissa, and I took friendship pictures:



third.
girls camp.
early mornings, cooking over the fire, organizing, planning, making friends..
 those things are expected at camp.

finding a nest of baby mice ? not so much.


Overall, my summer is theee best. 


Friday, May 4, 2012

the end

The phrase "there is a time for everything to end"  has come to my mind lately.  There is a time for school to end, for a season to end, for a story to end, etc.  But sometimes, I think that some things end too early.  Yes, events have to end, but when a person is not prepared for them to end, it gets rough. 
I have a cousin who ended his life this week.  This is and ending that should of been delayed.  No one can be prepared for that ending. 


i can't say much more. 

Saturday, April 28, 2012

listen up

 last article for Panther Pride this year!!

“I listen to music when I get up in the morning, in my car, when I do homework, sitting in the backseat listening off of my iPhone, and before I go to bed,” said junior, Shelby Olson. 
Music seems to be a necessity these days, almost to the point where we can’t live without it.  However, is the music that we listen to really what we want filling our thoughts? 
“So what we get drunk.  So what we ‘don’t sleep’.  We’re just having fun.  We don’t care who sees.” 
Please turn your attention to the lyrics of music these days.  What are we listening to, really?  Sure, the song has a good beat, but what message is it trying to get across?  Most songs played on the radio have the same message; people who love being drunk, sex, money, skipping school, violence, swearing, getting high, and revenge. 
“It can be awkward to listen to if you are in the car with your parents and you want to sing along,” said an anonymous student. 
If it is awkward to sing along when your parents are in the car, should you be listening to the song in the first place?  A few nights ago I flipped on the radio and got out a notepad and pen.  In 45 minutes I counted 62 times that the music referenced something either profane, sensual, or down-grading.   
The things in music today that bother me most are that are so many derogatory terms that are directed at women.  There are so many names that a female can be called; it is absurd!  The artist sounds controlling and rude. I also find it offensive that what most popular artists sing these days is about sex and drugs.  They encourage being lazy, irresponsible, and self centered.  They have the same message, same sound, and the same songs are played over and over until they are way too over played and people get annoyed.
I don't listen to the radio because it’s the same songs over and over and it gets old and annoying,” said Olson.
This brings up another point, songs that are played on the radio are catchy at first, but after the thirtieth time in a day, enough is enough.  What was a good song turns into an annoyance.   
“The radio ruins my favorite songs, I love it at first, but I can’t stand it by the end of the month,” said freshman, Abby Faldmo. 
Music is influencing, either for the good, or for the bad.  Even though you don’t think it is affecting your thoughts, it is.  Lyrics to songs will stick with you years down the road.  You might catch yourself jamming out, singing along, when you realize what you are singing and be horrified.  Save yourself the shock, and change the channel now so it will be a no-brainer in the future. 

Monday, April 23, 2012

state bball

i know this is a tad late, but it is a significant part of my junior year.  this year's basketball team from dakota valley went to the state A tournament.  the last time we went to state for basketball was over ten years ago, and so as you can predict, it was more than welcomed.  pretty much the entire student body traveled to sioux falls from thursday, april 15 to saturday, april 17.  every night at 8pm the DV kids and parents gathered in the sioux falls event center and literally cheered the team on every second of the games.
here is my problem that occured during the duration of the weekend:
thursday morning- my yearbook advisor informs me that i need a pass to film court side for the games, but she says it shouldn't be a problem: she already sent the paperwork in.
thursday night- i arrive at the game, go to the press pass area, they look for my papers.. none.  they feel bad for me; i have all this camera equipment.  the "president" of the basketball tournament comes and talks to me, doesn't let me reason at all, and i can't sit court side.  my heart sinks, but i still try to get as much film as i can without being close.
friday morning- i go and get all the paperwork to sit court side, have m principal and athletic director sign it, and i am feeling pretty good about everything.
friday afternoon-  i drive up to sioux falls with monica and faye, we drip off our stuff at a hotel, and go to the game.  go to the press pass area again, the workers seem okay with everything, but they go to check with the manager to make sure.  i am watching the game before DV's end, and i hear the voice of the "president" behind me.  without even letting me show what i did to get the press pass he says NO.  you are too late, no, no.  and walks away.  cool. another heart break.  i sit as close to the court without breaking any rules.
friday night- crazy madness!  spent the night at the ramkota with pretty much the entire DV population.
saturday morn/afternoon- my day was spent at the mall, trying to do homework (fail), and trying to find prom shoes (failll).  however, when i was in the food court of the mall, the boys basketball team showed up and coach kleis (head coach) approached me. he asked if i wanted to sit on the bench with the team and get footage of the game.  YESS!!!!!!!!!!!!  i pretty much wanted to jump and down and hug the guts out of that man.  
saturday night-  i sat on the other side of the court the first half, so that i could be at our basket.  i was trying to get different angles, so i sat up in the stands of the opposing team, and did my best to try not to cheer on my team.  about five minutes later a security worker ran at me and this was our conversation:
him:what are you doing here?
me: ummm taking pictures/video
him: no, you can't take pictures in the stands.
i look around at all the fans taking pictures... confused, right?
me: where would you suggest me taking pictures, then?
him: you have to be on the court
me: but i can't, i dont have a pass.
him: well you can't do that here, you are going to have to leave and go somewhere else.
mumbling to myself:  ok?? i guess i will just go take pictures in the parking lot, because they will be better than what you are allowing me to do at the moment.
that weekend was probably the most i have ever been yelled at in my entire life.
following this convo, i went and walked right passed and onto the court and took my rightful, deserved seat on the bench.

ok. ok. back to basketball.  we won the first two games, the first one not too easily, the second was a piece of cake.  championship night, we play st. thomas moore.  (ew.)  we just could't get our act together, it was soo sad.  they played their hardest, but could not pull through.  we too second in state, and hope to come back next year to win it all.

i used the videos i got to make a highlight tape for all the boys; we played it at the basketball banquet.  i will try to post it, but lately, blogger doesn't favor me.  i am actually surprised it let me type all this.  :) anyways, that is my basketball life.

ps.  i got asked to film ALL NEXT YEARR!!! wooooo.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

pop quiz.

Tell me a secret, tell me anything
What's your weapon? what's your middle name?
What do you believe in? what's your animal?
Are you a cat or a dog person?
What's your outlook? what's your favorite saying?

jk.  the new jason mraz album came out yesterday.  "love is a four letter word" 
kinda fell in love all over again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6ucJSwjFcQ

this song is called: like i never knew you" and it is amazing. (as usual.)
PLUS his world tour schedule was released. 
guess who is going to chicago on september 15?
THIS GIRL.



pumpppppppeddddd.

what would the world do without me?

right now i feel like i have hit the maximum of what a high school student can do. 
  • open mic night tomorrow
    • im in charge.
  • prom decorating friday
    • im in charge.
  • prom saturday
    • im in charge.
  • "special event" during prom- you juniors know what i am talking about.
    • im in charge.
  • prom royalty
    • im a junior attendant.
  • anatomy american heart association campaign due on tuesday
    • we havent even started.
  • lip dub with the entire school
    • im in charge.
  • young women new beginnings
    • im in charge. 
       note that this is over a week and a half time.

This list doesnt even mention my photography shoots, editing time, homework time, church time, graduation party time. 

EHHH!! i am going to be sick from not sleeping.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

lead like lizard

if you didn't know, one of my first nicknames was "lizardbreath" yes, ew i know, but it sounds like "elizabeth".  my uncle made it up and it has stuck in the family.  hence, the title of this post.

STATE STUCO 
i am the dakota valley vice president.  monica, buck, spence, laura, audrey, mr. schmitt, and i drove up to the capital of south dakota.  what is it you might ask?  pierre, aka in the middle of NO WHERE. population?  13,600ish.   itty bitty.  we had a blast though,  buck brought an adapter, so we watched a movie from his ipod on the TV in the hotel room.  spencer turned 16! we went to seminars to be taught how to be a better leader, except, either we are already fabulous leaders already or the kids teaching the classes are aweful teachers.  we made the long drive home (4.5 hours) and made a lip sync to JB's baby.  stopped at the famous buffalo statues.  win!



atempting to climb buffalo.



birthday door.


birthday games


birthday cake.


birthday cutie.


my BEST friends.


the group..

get ready for some candid moments..




this was me when everyone was passing the camera around the table.. not too happy.

FBLA (future business leaders of america) that i am. 
around 80 kids from DV and i traveled an hour north and attended the FBLA conference.  most just do it to get out of school.  i competed in two presentations where i placed fourth in the "Emerging Business Issues" with Logan and Monica.  the next day went on to taking SIX 100 question tests every hour.  then, karissa and i skipped the lame country dance, and watched the march madness championship. boo kentucky.  overall, 5 good things came out of it. 
1.  we learned that shelby can out push-up contest us all. 
2. lizzy knows how to do the worm
3. monica is scared of dark hallways
4. you can never have enough sweet and sour sauce.
5. wallets should never be in the same boxes as pancakes.
 (i lost my wallet.. it was in a box of pancakes)



yes, that is sweet and sour sause.

abbie(y)/elizabeth sandwich.

HONOR SOCIETY
just thought this was funny.  i was at the honor society induction, taking pictures of the five students that exceeded the 100 hours of service.   assuming that they would be all seniors, but nope.  one of the people was me.  i was just standing on the side of the stage, and then i heard my name! surprise!

awarded..



frandds.

winners of 100+ hours :)
<3 <3

in recap.  i have been to so many leadership things in the passed month, i think if i have to go to another in the very near future, i might explode in ideas for leading/ good examples.