Sheesh dad

Okay, what I am about to write is stupidly teenage and 'you ruined my life'-esque and so may offend some people. Not reading this entry is recommended.

Today, after visiting the chiropractor for my stupid back and ankle (which is freezing in a bucket of icy water as I write) I went down to the local soccer fields to watch my little brother play is third ever game of soccer. As you may have guessed, it is very entertaining. But man, those soccer mums are competitive. I mean, yeah, I am too, but I'm not the one yelling out 'get in there George!' and screaming 'don't just stand there, Sam!'. At any rate, I was just standing there with my dad, having a bit of a laugh; nothing out of the ordinary. Something you might imagine to be embarrassment-free.

Wait just a second. Before I get into the gory details I would like to admit that I am aware that I sound like a stupid pre-teen (not that I'm far off) desperate to be a teenager and worried about her reputation. I went through that phase, thank you very much, and have no desire to revisit it. When I was 11, I was critically embarrassed of my parents. Why couldn't they be normal? Etc., etc., etc.

So, yeah. Standing there, yelling encouragingly at Jack- a good family orientated pass time. My dad goes off to the stall to get more lollies. Mistake number one. If he goes off somewhere he has to come back.
Mistake number 2: vaguely pointing out to my dad which refs I recognise from school.
Mistake number 3: Seamus.
Okay, that's a little harsh but who cares?
I'd been standing there for ages so why did he choose that moment to come over?

I also understand that this is kind of weird because said mistake trois is in our class and we aren't meant to write about people but, in my defence, he does say he's "The Doctor".

He came over. He could have just yelled his greetings but he came over and soon enough we were standing awkwardly. You can leave now, Seamus. What was I doing here? Well, I was watching my brother's game. I have brother? Yeah, I told you that when you asked last week. Yep, the one in the red shirt.
No, no, dad- turn around! Then my dad came over.

'Hey dude!' Dude? Dude! Seamus looked frightened. My dad had just said dude. To Seamus.
'Eve's told me all about you, you're Seamus right?' Dad, oh, dad. Ground, please swallow me up. Seamus, go away. They shake hands. Seamus actually walks away slightly away and my dad walks with him. They talk!
I am walking in the opposite direction. I'm red, I know it. My blood is justified in rising and cooling itself nearer the surface of my skin- Seamus (Summer Glau/ Doctor Who/ tele-porting Seamus) and my father were all of a sudden best buddies.

I mouthed I hate you at the BFF's and dad yelled over his shoulder 'I'm going to get it now!'.
Joy. Joy oh joy oh joy. Thanks dad. Yeah, I love you too.
I wonder what is going to happen tomorrow. My dad's best friend has not shown a track record of forgetting things or letting things go. In fact, he has a nasty habit of bringing stuff up from years ago.

I hate being embarrassed. Especially in front of Seamus, of all people.
A very weird happening indeed. At least I got to go home straight afterwards. And at least my mum wasn't there. Okay, so it wasn't a disaster. But, still. C'mon. Rather you than me.
I haven't been shamed like that in a while. I guess I just had it coming.

Planned procrastination

Hi there. Instead of doing real work, my chores, or something truly productive (or at least due in the near future) I am going to write this entry. I think I am going to include a long, ambitious list of things that I should do today. Fun, huh?
This day's going okay so far. I woke up at seven and made myself get out of bed- I had promised myself I would get up early. I have been having trouble getting to sleep later, so my theory is the earlier I get up, the tireder I will be, and then it will take me less time of tossing and turning for me to fall asleep.

I got straight out of bed and into my new, gorgeous Kathmandu shorts, a t-shirt and jacket. I was going for a ride. I left a note on the front hall table and stole out of the house. Just opening the work-shop door and seeing her there puts a smile on my face. I rode up the road as usual; up to the top of the hill and back down again. Oh, and I stopped and looked at the stunning view in between. I love early morning. So crisp and cold and new. The moon looked so big and inflated, hanging at the opposite side of the sky to the rising sun.

After flying down the hill I rode along the main road, planning to go to the school. When I got to the entrance I saw one cyclist go right down in front of me. I don't particularly like cyclists. No, that's not true, I just don't like riding by them. I'm not very fast, I'm not in cycling gear or anything and I feel stupid. I don't even like riding on the road too much, especially busy ones, I usually stick to the footpath. I went down a steep hill and up again, to kill some time. I went back to the school then, though. The rain was threatening and I did feel a few drops, so I headed home. It didn't end up raining, and now the sun is shining, but that's nothing different for this part of the world. Yep, I just looked out the window and it is fine and beautiful- I hope it holds out for tomorrow.
Oh, and I had a fruit bagel for breakfast. That makes a day good, surely? And if that's not enough, I'm probably going to see my freinds later tonight and see a movie.

Okay, so for what I should do today.
-Colour in my static image
-tidy my reasonably messy room
-go through my NSW papers and look at my errors, etc
-finish my maths homework
-finish the rest of the social science work; a notable amount
-do my French homework and revise for the unit test next week
-help my mum with chores (ew)

That's actually not so bad, is it? That's possible and totally do-able. Perhaps my old habit of writing massive, over-ambitious lists is diminishing? Well, there are unnecessary school tasks that I could be doing, like study or looking up the details of an achievement standard we have coming up. They're not unnecessary, as such, I lie again, but they don't need to be done for quite a while, or at all.
Is this long enough, do you think? Word says that it is 562 words long. I think that's good. I have got a bit to do today, anyway. Au revoir.

I want to ride my bicycle

It was a regular day. I mean, it was my last ever Wednesday of being a fourteen year-old, but besides that, nothing special.
Well, not until about five o'clock.
That day was so normal up till then, actually, that I can't even remember much of the details. Just another school day destined to sink into oblivion.

Oh, now I've counted back, I've remembered it being a day 1. P.E. first; running around the school; a full lesson dedicated to a warm up. Maths next, sitting next to Gabrielle and Aleisha up the front, doing geometric drawing, which is actually quite fun. What was next...? French; learning something about the metro. Drama last. Doing improvisation work. I think I went to the school library after that but I can't be sure.

Don't you find that funny? How even yesterday or the day before that can be so hazy? So unimportant? It's also a little depressing, when you give it some thought; a good part of your life is destined to be forgotten. Never seen again; lost forever. The stuff you do remember will be distorted; changed to be either really good or really bad. Their might be a few mediocre memories in there, but for the most part, it's those ones that stand out. Maybe, inside our brain it's a bit like survival of the fittest: only the most interesting memories last the trial of the time.

So, I get home from school, right? (Amazing, I know.) I heard my dad working under the house, so after dumping my things in my room, I went down to see him. I asked the usual questions: 'how are you?', 'how was your day?'. He was fixing up my little brother's training wheels, and with the prospect of my new bike on the horizon, I said, 'it's going to be so cool when I get my new bike, me and Jack will be able to go riding together'.
I went to walk away when my dad said, 'have you see my new Norton?'. As you can understand, I was confused. What was he on?

As I stood there, I began to get angry and fire questions at him. Another one? You bought another one? Mum doesn't know? What?! You get the picture.
I walked hesitantly towards the workshop door. I pulled it open, and their I saw my brand new bike.
He thought that I had seen it when I had walked down. This wasn't the case, however.

My reaction was less than over-joyed. I don't know why, but I wasn't happy. Well, I do kind of know, as a result of my own psycho-analysing. Firstly; he had spoiled it, hadn't he?
I later found out that they had purchased it on Monday (329 smackaroos), so this in fact was a new record for my father. He is a very generous man, but also quite impatient when it comes to these things.

I had a different idea in my head at the time about how we were going to buy my bike. I thought we were going to go shopping together. So, when things don't follow the plan in your head, or what you were imagining, they can often be disappointing.
When I had first laid eyes on this bike, a few weeks ago now, at the Warehouse, I remember being drawn to it (it's not like they had a massive range or anything) but after looking at it, thinking that it was a bit plastic-y. It was all one colour, a Pacific blue, and the mud-guard things on the tires looked like they would bend and move around. It sounds so stupid now.
It wasn't like there was another bike I has wanted. And that one was, like, everything I needed. It was perfect for me, really.

So, I moped in my room for a while. After the negative frame of mind had passed, I became, as my mum said, 'the positive Eve I know'. I decided to lift the mood (I had obviously offended me dad) and asked if I could have a test drive. Boy, am I glad I did.
I don't know adequate words to make you really see or understand.

It was bliss. It was amazing. The first ride down the road was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. I can't recall how long I was out there, time seemed irrelevant at the time, but it was quite a while, I'm told.
It just rode around two close streets, but that didn't make a iota of difference.

The wind against your face; it gives you such a wonderful sense of freedom.
You're in control; you can go wherever you like. No responsibility; you don't have to think. You can just ride.
As I rode down the hill, standing up, I felt like if I jumped into the air, I would fly.

And as I looked out at the view, across the sea, at the sky, as the curving peninsula; sweaty, heart beating, leaning against my bike, I thought, this is the point.

If you can grow up, can you grow down?

I'm turning fifteen next Sunday, on the 19th. This is my last week of being a fourteen year old. Period.
I've been feeling quite sentimental about my childhood lately. When your fourteen, your considered a child; at the movies; admission to the zoo. Now, all of sudden, I am going to be paying adult prices. Adult!

I don't particularly want to grow up. All the responsibility; all your comfort being self-made. Who wants to be totally self-reliant? Bills, rent, and mortgages. Taxes and food shopping. Jobs. It doesn't sound appealing. This birthday seems to be the bridge between adulthood and childhood. When you're 13 and 14 you may feel like a teenager, but you aren't really, but when you're 15, it seems so grown up. So different, like a complete other phase. I mean, you can get your learners!

I know there's only one cure for growing older. The future will happen and time won't stop. You know what those hippies were saying might just be right: the only constant is change. With change, however, comes loss, and new things. New and unknown. You have to understand my apprehension: fear is the unknown, right?

I think that my reluctance to grow up isn't helped by my little brother. He is in year 2, and seeing the whole process of growing up has made me get nostalgic about my primary school years. I believe that it is perfectly natural to want to hold on to something that you know is slipping away. That sentence sounds more depressing than I intended, but the main point remains the same. I don't feel like like I'm ready to be an adult. But I have to realise that I am not suddenly going to be thrust into an office job and made to drink copious amounts of coffee just because my age changes. Everyday I grow older, right?

For every door that closes, another on opens. Sometimes I get really excited about life. Just imagine all the things that I am going to do in my life! The places I am going to see; the people I am going to meet; the things I am going to learn. It's logical to have some sadness related to growing up and changing, but it's illogical to try and do something about it- there is nothing you can do.

With this excitement also comes pure terror. Yesterday I was looking at old photo albums with my grandma and mum. It was of her during her teenage years. Like always, the concept of photos confounded me. And also, really thinking about the past. I was just thinking the thought when my mum put it into words, 'one day you'll be looking at photos of yourself with your children', she said. That really scared me.
I asked her if she was scared that it was 'all over'. She replied that she didn't have regrets, and that she is content with her memories because they were happy times, and she lived life to the full.
Noted. I'm not going to let anything pass me by.

Each phase is special in its own way. Each decade each year; every moment makes you who you are. You're constantly improving yourself; growing. I think about one year ago, when I was in year 9. Even that seems like so long ago, and that I was so young. I think about all that I have learnt in that year. Not only in school, but about life in general. It makes me want to learn more. Imagine what I'll know when I am an adult.

15. That's not so bad. And to soften the blow, I even get some cake.
5475 years young.

Cup cakes

Today my little brother and I created flower cup cakes. They turned out perfectly, and the whole experience, and the taste, was lovely. So, because I am so incredibly considerate, I thought I would put the recipe and method up here on my blog so that you too could make them. It was based on two recipes; one from the cup cake creations website, and the other from a food in a minute leaflet.
They're very simple to make, and they turn out even better if you share the baking process with a beloved family member. You know, add a little bit o' love, and all that.

What do ya' need?
150g marg. or softened butter.
3 eggs.
150g of castor sugar.
1/2 cup M & Ms (any variation)
175g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder

And for decoration...
12 M % Ms
30 marshmallows
3 tbs castor sugar
At least 2 different food colourings
1 1/2 cups of icing sugar

What do ya' need to do?
Before you begin, turn the oven on to 180'C, then line a 12 muffin pan with those cake-patty paper things.
Now, quickly beat the three eggs in a cup with a fork, then pour into a large mixing bowl.
Sift in the baking powder and the flour, and add the sugar.
Beat for two minutes with an electric mixture (I used a medium speed setting). Don't over do it- two minutes is adequate, and we don't want them turning out heavy, do we?
Fold the M & Ms into the mixture.
Then, using two dinner spoons (or any other instrument- it doesn't matter), evenly divide the batter among the muffin cases.
Gently place in the oven, and check on them in about 15 minutes (unless you have a super fast oven, then check in 10).
Leave them cooking for 18-20 minutes, or until the a golden and quite firm to the touch.
Turn off the oven and leave them in the heat for five more minutes.
Once that's over, take them out and leave them to cool off for a further 10 minutes.
After that, put them in a plate or wire wrack to completely cool off.
Don't ice them while they are warm!

Now, the petals...
Cut the marshmallows in half with a clean, wet knife. These sweets are sticky, so for nice halves, clean the knife regularly.
Put the sugar (again, divide evenly if you need to) in to a bowl and add 1/4 tsp of food colouring. Stir until the colour is even- it may take longer than you think.

To make the icing...
Put the icing sugar into a deep bowl (if you are making numerous icings, divide appropriately; we made red and blue, so we put 3/4 cup icing sugar in two bowls).
Add a single drop of food colouring. Our colouring didn't have a dripper top so we poured it into a 1/4 tsp then poured a drop from there.
Add a tsp of water, then 1/2 at a time from there. Add just enough water for a spreadable icing. Remember: you can always add more in, but you can't take it out.

Make the icing once your marshmallows are cut and your sugar ready, as it begins to thicken up quickly and becomes hard to spread (and the petals won't stay stuck on).
Ice the cup cakes, dip the cut side of the marshmallow into the sugar, then place on top of the muffin. Put the M & M in the middle. Hopefully, it will look like a flower.

Clean up, then enjoy!

Science Report

Last term we were given an assignment in science. We had to research five different ways of generating electricity. We could present it in any way that we like. Power point, essay, poster. I choose to write a report. I guess it was kind of like an essay, but it didn't have a formal structure, and it had a lot of paragraphs. I chose to do this because next year, and every year after that, in work and university and everything, you don't spend your time making pretty posters- you write essays and reports- and, eventually, books (a thesis or something like that?). Later, our science teacher said that we didn't need to print out all our information and highlight it, like we did for English. She did originally, I swear.

It's fair to say that I got a bit carried away. Not that we didn't have a lot to do. I'm just glad my efforts were awarded. I apologise for tooting my own horn, but I think I deserved what I got- I worked so hard. On the calendar above the thought of the month is, Never apologise for feeling- when you do so, you apologise for the truth. I think that this applies to me somewhat. I've realised, with the help of my mum, that I am never really pleased with myself. I am a perfectionist, it's true. I refuse to say sorry for having pride in my own achievements, comprende? I got Excellence +++ on this report. The mark doesn't even exist, but it's a nice thought. She also wrote, Awesome! I'd like to see a university student top this!
Automatically I think that she is over-exaggerating, that perhaps her hand slipped while she was writing that, or that she was under the influence. Why is my first path one that leads to belittling myself?
And hey, guess what? I got a perfect score on our electricity (physics) test, and I'm proud!

So, anyway, you saw it coming: I am going to post my report. Well, some of it, at any rate. It is six pages long, so I am just going to put the introduction and the section on nuclear power up. I hope you find it interesting. Frankie read the whole thing and said it wasn't boring, that counts for something, right?

Exploring Electricity Generation

Elektron is the Greek word for ‘amber’, and ēlectricus is New Latin for ‘amber-like’. The phenomenon of electricity began long before the Common Era. It was observed that rubbing the tree resin against objects such as fur and cloth would result in the amber picking up light objects. We have come a long way from that, and now have numerous different techniques to generate electricity- the energy which the human species relies on to survive, and which is necessary for our modern society to function. The methods used to generate the electricity that is causing the bulb above me to glow, and the computer before me to work, is produced through electro-magnetism.

“Electricity is generated when a coil of wire moves in a magnetic field. This is the basis of electricity generators.”
In a generator, there is a piece of equipment known as a turbine. When the turbine spins, so does the rotor. The rotor is made up of coiled wires, which have a slight electric current flowing through them. This produces a magnetic filed around the wires.

The stationary part of the generator is known as the stator, and this is also made up of solenoids (tightly would coils of wire). When the rotor spins, the magnetic field of the rotor causes electrons to flow in the stator, and this electric current then travels through transformers and transmission lines, until it reaches your home.

In a model version of a generator, like the one you’re in secondary schools, the turbine is spun by hand. On the massive scale of power plants, however, this just can’t be done. So the problem is something needs to spin the turbine. The only difference between different methods of electricity generation is what is used to spin the turbine.

In this report, you will learn about two generating methods which heat water to turn it to steam, which makes a turbine rotate; coal power, and nuclear power. I will also explain two direct drive methods, rather than turbine drive, known as hydropower and wind power. The final technique of electricity generation I will discuss in this report is solar power, which doesn’t use a turbine at all.

There are many other systems in place and developing, but I have chosen only 5.
Coal, nuclear, hydro, wind, and solar: many different ways; same underlying principle.

Nuclear Power

In the centre of an atom there is a group of protons and neutrons known as the nucleus. Within that nucleus there is a large amount of energy, especially in the bonds which hold the neutrons and protons together. In nuclear power generation, this energy is harnessed.

When an atom is split, the energy is released in the form of heat. Heat is not the only thing that is released when a neutron is fired into it, resulting in it splitting; more neutrons are, too. These sub-atomic particles then go on to hit into other atoms, and the cycle repeats itself. In most power plants, the element Uranium is used, as the atoms divide easily. In a nuclear power plant, these chain reactions take place in a controlled environment.

In order to explain this, I will need to explain the two different types of nuclear power plants. Firstly, the most common; pressurized-water reactors. In PWRs, the water that is passed through where the atom-splitting is happening is kept under such a high pressure (hence, it’s name) so the water does not evaporate into steam, though it still becomes heated. This hot water is then flows through the tubes of a steam generator. Outside of the tubes there is clean water, which is heated by the water passing through the tubes. It heats, and then evaporates into steam. This steam travels into a turbine, causing it to turn, and spinning the rotor within the generator.

Neutrons and heat are, unfortunately, not the only substances released when an atom is split, particle radiation is, too. Radiation is undetectable to a human without a Geiger counter (device used to detect radioactivity); it’s colourless, has no smell- it can be deadly. Even a tiny dose of radiation can be fatal to any organism. If it doesn’t kill a human through cancer or intestine dysfunction, mutations can appear in the effected person’s offspring because of damage to their DNA.

Radioactive waste is an inevitable part of nuclear power generation. Reprocessing the waste hasn’t really done much to solve the problem, seeing as, even though it can be used again, it results in a greater amount of waste, some of which is highly concentrated. There are safe ways of storing this waste, though, and with the correct equipment and appropriate precautions, it need not pose a direct environmental threat.

Green-glowing radioactive waste, atomic bombs, billowing smoke and nuclear meltdowns; this is what probably comes to mind when one hears the term ‘nuclear power’. No, nuclear electricity generation is not perfect, but then, no energy source is. Public opinion is based on incorrect information and stereotypes (such as the Spring Field plant featured on The Simpsons). Nuclear power is, in fact, a lot cleaner than fossil fuels, the most widely used fuel source, even though it is non-renewable.

Firstly, the pollution factor on everyone’s mind: green house gases. The only emissions come from uranium processing, but these are small. Otherwise, a nuclear power plant produces no carbon dioxide or air pollution of any kind. The gas coming out of the large cooling towers is actually steam. Perhaps this reliable source of 15% of the world’s energy is worth it?

Why don't you get something done?

Something has happened to me. I never used to be the kind of person who always talked about stuff but never did it. I never used to be described as 'all talk and no do'. Okay, so perhaps that is a little exaggerated; it's not my defining nature, but lately I seem to be saying all these things and never doing them. I make all sorts of promises to myself and to others, and neglect to fulfill them. My conclusion is that I am over-ambitious. I am asking too much of myself, and therefore I end up getting them minimum amount done. Though that sounds so padded, so self indulgent. Maybe I am just lazy, and don't have the will-power or motivation to get things done.

It would be nice if I got all that stuff done; it would be fantastic. I think the key is small goals and consistency. My running coach, John, said the other day when were talking about training,' I'm a big fan of actually getting stuff done'. So, instead of suddenly deciding to do 100 press-ups and sit-ups everyday (setting yourself up for failure), you should start of with 15 a day and gradually work your way up to your long-term goal. This makes sense, but it is a lot harder than it sounds.

I always make these amazing plans. I'll do this everyday- the results will be amazing!
Yes, the results would be fantastic, if I actually did it. I usually stick with it for a few days then forget about it, then end up writing a new list, or making some more wonderful plans or regimes.
Start small, and work your way up. It takes 26 days to make or break a habit- isn't that what they say?

I am quite an idealistic person. Wouldn't it be great if...? You know the story.
People should do this; We should totally do this; if only I did this everyday.
I think that's the habit I need to break. It's a relatively new habit and I just need to get out of it. The practice of writing these amazing (and amazingly long) lists reap no rewards, and only leave me feeling unsuccessful when I don't get anything done.
I am going to start with one or two small goals daily. Things like: today I am going to write a blog entry or I am going to write the introduction for that essay.

It's great to have goals, to work toward something, to aim high but, like everything else in life, there needs to be a balance. With exams awaiting at the ends of this term and NCEA on the horizon, this mindset and work ethic is what I need to reach my major goals and, better yet, feel successful and happy.

So, positive outlook, is it? And small goals. Achievable ones. Consistency. Just doing it.
I think that last one applies especially to me. I am going to be an efficient person who does get the things I intend to done.
Hey, look at that, I just wrote a blog entry.