Gloomy Day Blues

Winter is coming on and the light, sunny days are replaced with foggy, rainy days. People, I in particular, tend to get the "Gloomy Day Blues." The symptoms have shown up in how I have been feeling constantly tired, I suppose all the extra school work and filled up weekends helped with that. But now my school work has lessened up and I have decided to try to conquer these Gloomy Day Blues. One way, is that I have began jogging again which I have had to stop due to school work. Exercise does help give you more energy and brighten up a day and ward off the Gloomy Day Blues. Here is a poem in honor of all those who brave the cold, winter air to get outside and exercise, though I have to admit it isn't real poetry. For those who don't plan to, you can enjoy the poem for its own sake to brighten up your day. It is by an unknown author. I would recommend you read the original poem first: "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost. Here is instead, "Stopping by the Bakery on a Hungry Evening" with apologies to Robert Frost:

Whose cakes these are, I think I know,

His Condos in the city though,

He will not see me stop to stare,

At every croissant and eclair.

My running shoes must think it queer,

To pause with all these pastries here,

My diets barely started, but still,

I feel a weakening of my will.

The cashier says, "What would you like?"

Forgive me exercising bike!

Cream puffs I think, just a box of twenty,

Wait! One doughnut hole is plenty.

Oh, whipped creams lushes white and deep,

But I have diet vows to keep,

And miles to jog before I sleep!

And miles to jog before I sleep!

What are your ways to keep from the Gloomy Day Blues?

What Mess?

No, not mess, messE. You know, the Herbst Messe? Translated, "the Fall Fair" which comes every year to Basel. Today I spent the afternoon with church friends walking all over the messe. We ate and walked and ate more and walked more and rode some rides and ate more and walked more. It was lots of fun! What kinds of rides did I go on? Well, perhaps knowing me you will think bumper cars and merry-go-rounds. Not this time! I faced my fears and went on a crazy ride. It went up, down, spun in circles and even went upside down! Yes, I was terrified. Yes, I would go on it again. And yes, I did scream myself almost hoarse :D And yes, I loved every second of it!!! Here are the pictures of the fun day:

Here we are, all smily!

The Transformer, which is the second ride I went one. This was only the start with the smoke effect and rising up, before the spinning started.

Ok, here starts the spinning... I would recommend not to eat beforehand.

Scenes from the herbst messe.

The messe will still be on for another week, so I would recommend everyone to come into Basel and experience the fun themselves!

Practice Makes Perfect!

Fall holiday is over and it is back to school. I decided to continue school through the fall holiday, but I did take the last few days off. More specifically I had the 14-17 off, where I went with Rebecca and my JugendMusik (Youth Band) to our annual JUMU Lager (Jugend Musik camp) in Shelten (near Délemont).

What did we do for those few days? Here is just an overview:

We played music, of course, that was the entire point of the camp. We separated up into our different instrument groups to practice then we joined together and realized we should have practiced more on our own. But not to worry, the next day we were able to practice in our little groups again, day in and day out, till we all could barely make a note by the end.

Here is our band director, she was nice enough to let her dad join us :P

Another important thing we did was eat!!!! Actually in this picture we are playing games in the evening, but since there is food involved as well I suppose it could represent us eating :D

Due to our theme being animals, we had a circus one evening. Those who got marked through out the year for forgetting their notes etc had to each perform an act. This was the elephant trainer, yes those are mattress covers that the elephants are wearing :)

We loved to stay up late and talk, that is what camp is all about :P But in this picture, the leader didn't quite appreciate us staying up, since he couldn't get us to stop talking instead he thought he would create a way for us to use our energy elsewhere. So in our pajamas (and some in their barefeet) we were marched outside at about midnight in the freezing cold and we ran laps and did jumping jacks and more. We loved it!

That was all lots of fun and the end came to soon. The Lager Abschlusskonzert (camp ending concert) arrived where we were able to play those songs we had been practicing like crazy all week. The concert went really well and everyone enjoyed it (I think :P ) Then we all said our sad goodbyes and went home... to sleep!

Another Chance...

Another chance to win, I approach my Judo tournament in Murten with much anticipation. Will this be the one that I will finally win at least one fight? Just two weeks before I was at a competition in Weinfelden which turned into somewhat of a disaster. After being stuck in traffic, I missed the weigh in; therefore, I was not signed up for my group. Disappointed in having driven over two hours and not being able to compete at all, my teacher allowed me to join the elite group. I lost after seven seconds. Now I was in Murten, ready to do my best.

"OJIME!" called the referee and I began. The time ticked by on the digital clock, counting down from four minutes. Now it was at three minutes and I was still in, though I had fallen a few times I still kept going. Then it happened, she pinned me down and I struggled for freedom. I could barely breathe. The timer began. Could I free myself before the twenty-five seconds were over? What would happen first, would I escape or suffocate? I gasp for breath and continue fighting. Then I heard it, the loud buzz. It was over and I had lost. Yet, how long did I fight for? 1:33!!! I was so pleased with myself! That was my best record.

Then came my second fight. Not much to say about that. I approached my opponent, we fought, a few seconds later I was laying flat on my back. But nothing could squelch my elation over my defeat of my personal record. Goodbye Judo tournaments, I will not be competing again this year. I will have time to work hard and practice till January, then I shall return stronger, faster, and better. Perhaps that will be my first win?

Enjoy the movie of my tournament :) I'm the one in the orange belt :P

Return to Routine

Life has become quite busy over the past few weeks, with school and my hobbies all starting up. But I am pleased to announce that a routine has begun again and I am no longer suffering from Summer Holiday Boredom. The biggest happening since I last wrote was Heather leaving for University again. Though she has already been gone for a year, the goodbyes after her visits never get any easier. After having her around the house for three months and now her gone, I can't help but almost cry when I see the places she used to be, lie empty. But I must learn that life has to go on...

Saying goodbye breaks my heart,

If only we never had to part.

I'm very close to my sister,

I love to talk and laugh with her.

I understand that change must be,

And that she is now very happy,

But still I don't like to let go,

Yet she has to move on in life, also

I need to move on as well I know.

She'll go her way, I'll go mine. Though-

We shouldn't cry and feel so sad,

Instead treasure the time that we had.

Though for a time we may grieve,

The memories will never leave,

But I can't help shedding at least a tear,

For the sister I'm parted from who is so dear.