...may the odds be ever in your favor!

It was March 23. A long awaited day. Many exciting things would be in store. First, we had the student vs. faculty basketball game. last year, the game ended early because some girl had a seizure (not one of the players). The teachers won. This year was much different! The students won!!!!!!!!!! my friends Honi, Will, and Braxton played in the game. it was so much fun to watch and cheer for my friends! After the game, I went over to Callie's house. We watched Psych and played on the Kinect. Sounds fun, right? T'was a great afternoon. But the real reason we have all been waiting for March 23, the real reason that it was such a fantastico day was this............

not like I was calm at all.... hehe. I was freaking out!

all this week, I had prepared for this to happen. it's all I really thought about. (okay, not quite.) my thoughts were basically: 10% school, 20% boys, 5% stuff I do outside of school, 75% HUNGER GAMES. (Josh Hutcherson/Peeta is included in the Hunger Games section instead of the boys.) at play practice, we mostly talked about Hunger Games. with friends, we mostly talked about Hunger Games. I didn't sleep all week because of anticipation of the Hunger Games. Thursday night had to be the worst. it was high school orientation, and I had to go. I signed up for both cheer and girls tennis. as soon as I got home, I mostly forgot all that. I was jealous of all my friends who went to the midnight showing (really parents, it's the Hunger Games. this only happens once. so let me stay up late!) but all the same, I was still super pumped about the next day and what it would bring. so, that kind of gives you an idea of how obsessed I am with the Hunger Games. plus, all the books were super good and they are pretty much the only things I'll ever read!

at around 6:00 that evening, I ran all the way from Callie's to the theater in the Riverwoods, which is super close to her house. I was supposed to meet my other bestie (okay, like all my friends are my besties) Miranda, who would be there with my friends Lindsey and Cami. What I didn't know was that all of their friends showed up too, some of whom I barely even knew. they were all seated on a blanket in line for the movie. I started to panick. 7:00 seemed like a long time away.

 my night in one photo: tickets, Miranda, and Hunger Games!!!

just as I was about to die, we were seated on these really nice plush seats. I sat in between Miranda and some person I had never met. LET THE GAMES BEGIN.

{WARNING: it will not be spoiled completely, but I suggest you stop reading until I tell you to start again, if you haven't read or seen the movie.}

from the point that Prim's name had been called in the reaping, my eyes started to leak. it got worse as Katniss said her goodbyes and got on the train and the memory of Peeta giving her the bread. I love Josh Hutcherson, and I love Peeta even more. I had adored him ever since he first appeared in the books, and that has only increased. but as soon as Katniss and Rue started talking, the tears started again because it was so sweet, although in the book, there was definitely a bigger connection between the 2 of them. but when Rue was dying and Katniss was singing, I just couldn't stop. I was sniffling so much that the person next to me told me to be quiet. I whispered to her rather loudly that it was an emotional scene and she needed to leave us alone! I am the world's biggest crybaby when it comes to stuff like this! after a while I stopped, but in the cave scene with Peeta, I started up again and didn't stop until it ended.

{people who didn't want to get spoiled: you can read now. thank you for your patience.}

it was the best night of my life. it followed the book pretty well, was fast-paced, kept you into it, had a great story, had a ton of action and some romance (but not a ton), which is how I like it. plus, it wasn't nearly as violent and disturbing as the book. those scenes went by in a blur so you couldn't really tell what was happening. Katniss isn't your typical 16 year old girl. she has gone through a bunch of hard times that have made her self-reliant and stronger. she isn't all focused on the boys looks (Peeta and Gale), she describes them as sweet, emotional, and strong. a big theme is protecting your family, caring for your friends, and becoming a better, stronger person. this was the part that made my whole night. after the games, as Katniss and Peeta were talking on the train:
Katniss: we could forget the whole thing.
Peeta: I never want to forget.
this night, this movie, I never want to forget!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Riley Nelson and girls week

this week has been crazy! term 4 started, and it was girls week. I dressed up on pink and purple day, what not to wear day, lipstick day, and hip-hop day. I only have pics of lipstick day and hip-hop day. I didn't dress up on 80s day because I went to the Hunger Games!!! (will post later.) so, enjoy!

 McCall and me on lipstick day! usually McCall's hair is curly, and mine is straight. but I finally got my hair to curl, and it doesn't look anything like hers usually does. but hers was straight, and it's adorable both ways. anyway, our necklaces are matching, but you can't really tell. but I love her sooooo much!

 Rachel and me on Hip-Hop day! Notice how Rachel is borrowing my beanie. Because I am such a great friend, I let her keep it! I love my little gangster twin! We have soooo much fun at play practice.... NOT!

my new necklace that McCall also has. no, it does not say Miriam (I wish!) It says McCall instead. Our lovely friend Sydney knows someone who makes them, so she has been selling personalized ones. I have never been able to find anything with my name on it, much less McCall. so, we were lucky! Thanks Syd! Love ya tons!

onto the Riley Nelson part. I already did my Riley Nelson post in December, so click here to see it again! today was the first BYU Football practice, so Dad, the boys, and I all rode our bikes down to the stadium to come see it! Because Riley already signed my shirt, I didn't bring anything to sign. but both of the boys were super excited! First, Wesley said "Hey, we're Doctor Castle's boys!" Justin didn't feel like introducing himself because he was too excited. he said, "could you sign my shirt? and my football?" I just said, "I'm Miriam Castle! Thanks so much for signing my shirt back in December! I love football." He said your welcome and we took a picture. Sadly, he cut his hair.....

it was super fun!





I'm alive!

my last post was about hats. I know, exciting, right? So, where have I been? well, today is the end of term 3. I don't know what it is with term 3, but every single year it never goes the way I wish it would go. for example, last year, I had straight As, except for a B- in Algebra. it took forever to get it up to that!
this term has been no different, except for the first time this year, I got straight As! except for that freaking 73% in Geometry! son of a gun. I tried to retake all of those quizzes, but my ********* teacher wouldn't get my grade in. {ps. I was not swearing. I just have several mean words to describe him, and I didn't know which one to pick.}
enough about math. oops. I said the M word. I promise to never. ever. ever. ever. swear on this blog again. what really has been stressing me out is American Studies. Last week, we got a packet with like 10 homework pages. it was due only a week later. my teacher combined 2 chapters into one packet. in a week. and she was hardly even there because she was at mock trials. The earliest I have gotten to bed this whole week was 11. today we took the test, and I do not have a good feeling about this one!

good news!!!!!!! Student Council is in charge of Centennial Idol. during plus/flex time, students will perform. the way you vote is a student council member (I have a ton of friends on there) hands you a ballot. You mark the contestant you want to vote for. You hand the ballot back to the student council person. pretty easy, right? well, guess what. I tried out yesterday with "Make You Feel My Love" by Adele. (Oh McCall, I am soooooooooooo sorry I stole your audition song!) we didn't find out the contestants until today. so, in math today, one of my friends on student council told the teacher that he needed to see me. of course, the ************* teacher said "no, she is doing work." my friend and I escaped, and then he handed me a paper and told me the greatest thing ever.

I MADE CENTENNIAL IDOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so did my friends McCall and Honi. I am so happy! on the Friday after the Hunger Games comes out (I am so freaking excited for that too), I will be performing "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele. This is going to be legit. I love to sing, and because I didn't make the talent show (must I even explain that again?), this is my opportunity to sparkle. even if I don't win, I'm still grateful for the chance that I have to perform!

so, a bunch of good things have been happening. today, I got to take a little nap when I got home from school. haven't slept in like 3 weeks! after that, I just chilled out at home and watched Fantastic Mr. Fox, my favorite movie ever. plus, spring is coming! well, I gotta go to sleep, because I have missed it!