Deuces 2011

Tomorrow (well techincally today) is the last day of 2011.

Well that was fast.

Get ready for a picture memory tour of my year


Went to NOLA



Toured Georgia (and decided on Alabama)

Had my LAST TRYOUT EVER

Celebrated the Old South

Started this little thing called YoungLife

Went to cheer camp...and more importantly, won the banana.

FINALLY got alstarz

Annnnd secured my title as failure captain

Went to the lake...

...and the beach. A lot.

Oh yeah, and I went to Hungary.

AND the Mall of America

Visited my mountain home

And took that home to Seagrove

Discovered my new favorite Senior privilage

Was completely raptured in the amazing-ness of my friends

Climbed on mats in cheerleading

Made some ballin' friends

Went to an Auburn game (and had fun?)

Got asked to homecoming...by my date coming out of a present on my doorstep with a poem. It rocked.

Got to wear the Senior cheerleader mums

Had my LAST homecoming

Went to the Big Apple

Danced in this little thing called the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Played Hoover

Beat Hoover

Let Tribble Reese take a picture with me

Defied the odds and ate doughnuts at Moe's

Dressed like a lumberjack and ate pancakes for my 18th birthday

Took our yearly outdoorsy picture

Celebrated my 6th year of failing to learn the French language, but having a blast doing it

And FINALLY made it to Mississippi



It was a solid year, if I do say so myself. And 2012 isn't looking too shabby either...Senior year, South Africa, the "C" word. Prep yourself, fearless reader, for all the overdramatics, quirks, obstacles, struggles, and triumphs that you get to follow me along with.

To the moon and back,
Allie

"You never know what's under a rock until you turn it over." -Buffalo Jack

1

Forgive and give as if it was your last opportunity. Love like there's no tomorrow. And if tomorrow comes, 

love again.

-Max Lucado-

To forgive is to set a prisoner free

and discover that the prisoner was you.

Post-Christmas Daze

Well. Here we are on one of the saddest days of the year.

December 26. The day after Christmas.

My Christmas rocked, if I do say so myself. Christmas Eve in Florence (Wayne discovered he is allergic to weiner dogs. Emergency zertec runs are the best.), Candlelight service and waffles complete with matching Alabama footie pjs for the whole Ingram family, and I watched The Holiday by myself and relished it. Christmas morning meant cinnamon rolls, Church again, and a HUGE lunch. I unashamedly ate my weight in stuffing because it is my favorite and I do what I want. Then of course, the long winters nap, followed by a long winters bath. Christmas night we had our traditional pancake throw down with a bunch of friends. Oh yeah, then I stayed up until 3am watching One Tree Hill.

And then I go from the best time of year to the worst, in a matter of night's sleep.

Today womps because you spend it tired, bloated after your week long food coma, bitter because you are officially on the SB'12 diet and resisting all the sweets that resulted in that food coma, depressed because you are putting up all the decorations, and finally, you realize that the next two months are literally the worst. No one, and I mean NO ONE likes January and February. If someone told me, "Oh my favorite time of year is January because it's freezing cold while not being Christmas and I love all the exciting activities that come with it's arrival." I would probably abandon the conversation with said person immediately, because they are obivously a noob.

But as I am trying to mold myself into the stubborn optimist, I will share the few things there are to look forward to for the month of January.
- On Wednesday, two of my friends and I are road tripping it to the great state of Mississippi to visit some of my sweet Camp DeSoto friends. A trip that I am finally taking after 8 years of never getting around to it!
-NYE (or for those who aren't appart of the abbreviation generation, New Years Eve). Do my friends have plans yet? Nope. All we do know is that there will be sparkly dresses that are never acceptable unless it is NYE, and lots, and lots of non-alcoholic grape juice. Definition of a throw down right here.
-NOLA.The one and only University of Alabama Crimson Tide is competing agaisnt their hated rival, the Louisanna State University Bengal Tigers. And the Ingram family is traveling down to the big easy, my new Alabama jersey in tow (THANKS SANTA), to watch an intense rematch, but one that will be won by Bama. Duh.
-Football banquet. So what if I am the only one who looks forward to this?
-Long weekend. Yes.
-The event of the year, the Candlelight Ball. Nothing says Mountain Brook like excessive planning, dieting, dress/earring/shoe shopping, and swing dancing quite like these little throw downs. And I'm not going to lie, I'M PSYCHED.
Sidenote: I'm convinced they hold these balls so that second semester can compete with the utter joy that is first semester football season. Sorry, B-ballers, no one likes or will ever like basketball season as much as football. But I will say that watching 17 episodes of One Tree Hill in 5 days has helped me cope much better.

Okay, okay, so maybe January won't be as sad as it usually is. Plus I've got some new obsessions...


Hello, my dear.



Who says you don't have to wear these just when it's raining?

Barton Hollow - The Civil Wars



Addiction.



To the moon and back,

Allie

"Some people believe that raven’s guide travelers to their destinations. Others believe that the sight of a solitary raven is considered good luck. While a group of ravens predicts trouble ahead. And a raven right before battle promises victory." -One Tree Hill

Coming Soon: Summer 2012

I'll give you some hints about what's in store for next summer...

Here...

 ....for 10 whole days

With them...

...for 10 whole days

And on one of these...

...for about

3 hours in USA travel

8 hours to Amsterdam

and 11 hours to

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA.

Slightly estactic.

Get your prayer engines started, faithful readers. 

Allie

"Let all difficulties know that you too are difficult."

The Help

I would just like to give a small suggestion to any of my (possibly nonexistent) readers. Not only do I strongly recommend you read the book, The Help, you need to see the movie. Just finished round 3 myself, and when I popped that baby in, let's just say the audience wasn't so excited about watching it as I am.

Girl #1: "Ugh Allison...this movie is like 3 hours long!"

Guy #1: "Why do we always watch movies? Can we do something else?"

Guy #2: "Let's break into the high school!" (as if this was a better idea?)

Girl #2: "Nah it's too cold." (our excuse for everything)

Guy #3: "This is just a chick flick!"

90 minutes later...

Girl #2: "I'm about to start crying. I can't handle this."

Guy #1: "I HATE her (hilly). Like she just makes me so frustrated."

Guy #2: "Her mother or her maid or the Jackson Journal guy are my favorite characters."

Girl #1: "So why do they hate the blonde chick?"

Guy #3: "Because they think she got pregnant while he was still dating the really mean one."

Needless to say, many people guiltlessly broke curfews tonight.

Plus, I'm partial to anything that is placed in the south; especially anything that involves soul food and mirrors my mother's and mine relationship so wonderfully. These writers really knew what they were doing, because they got it down to a tee.

You is kind, you is smart, you is important. Remember that.

Allie

"All my life I’d been told what to believe about politics, coloreds, being a girl. But with Constantine’s thumb pressed in my hand, I realized I actually had a choice in what I could believe." -The Help (book)

Merry Christmas Y'all

If you dislike Christmas, I would advice you to just stop reading here because you will obviously be annoyed with this post. You can use your time in more valuable ways for yourself...like kicking puppies and taking candy from small children, you heartless noob. I am absolutely obsessed with Christmas; why else would I still be up not studying for that FRAP exam tomorrow?

There are a couple of reasons why Christmas is the throw down to end all throw downs:

1. No school! Even though there are exams, I honestly don't think they are that bad. All you have to do is study, no busy work, you live in coffee houses with your friends for a week, and you can take an afternoon nap at like 1, which everyone knows is prime napping time. Today I took Marine (I made a 94, but it is Marine) and AP English (82. Meh.) and tomorrow I have AP French (hahahahahaha good thing I think my knowledge of the French language has solidly digressed in this 6 year span) and the dreaded Pre-Cal. But after that, it's just like a mini summer vacation, just minus the humidity, and with Christmas and better food.

2. Christmas movies! Top faves: All I Want For Christmas, The Holiday, A Christmas Story, and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Grab some hot chocolate, a blanket, your dog/cat/companion and your set to sit on your butt all day without fear of being frowned upon.

3. Living Nativity. Hands down the best part. Every year for 50 years, my church reenacts the story of Christmas with animals and volunteers play the part. The recording is the same one my dad listened too when he was in it in high school, made by the then senior pastor who's southern drawl haunts my dreams. I am what you call a seasoned veteran with 16 years under my belt, so needless to say, I can recite the entire 35 minute program from memory. I also have played every single role available. But of course, I worked my way up, because you see, there is a hierarchy in the Mountain Brook Baptist Church's Living Nativity:
- Angel: anyone can be an angel. Literally anyone. That's why you start out here. All you do is wear a baptismal robe, wings, and a halo, and crouch down on cold bleachers until you hear, "And suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of the heavenly host!"
- Shepard: Second on the scale.You can be a shepard at the age of 10 I believe. Shepards sit in the fields "keeping watch over their flocks by night surrounded by sheep and a roaring fire (manned by Piro *see below). It is a BIG DEAL when you are finally old enough to be promoted to a shepard.
-Wiseman: you have to be in 9th grade, or just meet the height requirement, to be a wiseman. You wear the most elaborate costumes, have a solo role as you stand and occaisonally sway in sync to "We Three Kings". If you're a seasoned vet as I am, you can choreograph a level change to throw in there.
Now here are the "really big roles"
-Gabriel: You are in charge of the heavenly host, therefore your role is to babysit/skillfully balance your giant sparkling wings agaisnt the heavy winds. This is Julia's favorite job, mainly because she gets to stalk all the precious baby angels and look like she's in control.
-Pyro: You are the head shepard. You are the giver of fire to the shepards. This is therefore my favorite role because my dear father has perfected and past down the ways of the pyro to every pyro after him. Usually, the oldest male is pyro because it involves keeping control of the lighter.This job also occaisonally leads to tearing pages out of the church's phonebook and soaking them in hand santizer. Let me just say we have the most efficent and ravenous fire ever.
-Joseph: Joseph stands behind Mary, calm and collective, and gives her pats on the shoulder and solid glances saying "our love is eternal"or "you did an excellent job bearing the Son of God". I unashamedly admit to playing this role before.
-Mary: The center of the Living Nativity. You sit and rotate between holding Jesus,adjusting Jesus' blankets, putting him back in the trough, gazeing adoringly at Jesus, and into the abyss.

4. Baking! No need for explanation. This years "To Bake List" consists of coconut balls, Peppermint Layered Cheesecake, Peppermint Bark, Rosemary Cashews, etc. you get the point. Christmas is where it's at.

To the Moon and Back,
Allie

"If you do not have Christmas in your heart, then you will never find it under a tree." -Charles Dickens

17, Only Comes Once in a Lifetime

WARNING: CHEESY BLOG POST AHEAD. READ AT YOU'RE OWN DISCRETION.


One hour. That's all I have left of being 17.


We all know 17 is the best age to be. It's the go to age for every song. It's that one summer you get that is your "summer at 17." It's that perfect age where people don't assume you're too young, and you're not too old just yet. You can still get away with getting the kid's meal at Moe's, and yet your parents let you drive pretty much anywhere you want. The curfew is either midnight or nonexistent. The awkward phase FINALLY ends and you're comfortable within your friends and your surroundings. You get the "ahh I'm finally a senior!" feeling second semester of junior year and first of senior, but not any of the "ahhhhhhhhhhhhh I'm a senior??!!??" feelings of second semester.


This year, I applied to college, took the ACT, and actually cared about my grades...senior year. I am not normal. I went to the beach and lake countless times, but in my opinion, I still didn't go enough. I went to Hungary, and survived the 8 hour plane flight over man eating sharks. I learned started to learn to bake. I realized that even though being home alone sounds fun at first, it gets really lonely fast. The good news is that's why it's good that your friends always come to break into your house. I got a "real" job, and developed a musical taste for Train, Needtobreathe, Beyonce, and Justin Bieber. Yes, I went there.


I danced in the Macy's parade in New York City. I moved out of the 1999 Ford Explorer and into the beautiful charcoal gray 4runner/child. I stayed overnight at a college. DGMYL was founded and ever since then, my thursdays have never been the same. I first diagnosed "post-football-season-itius" and witnessed it infect high schoolers for yet another year. I learned to swing dance. I only got sunburned severely 3 times (SCORE) and developed my coffee mug and coozie collection. I used the terms "Deuces" "I'm 17 and I do what I want" and "homegirl" way too often. My football team beat Hoover. I also cheered my last football game.


I got pushed in many pools, tabled topped, car painted, and swinging and noggied hugged countless times. And I not so secretly loved it every single time. I now know how to enter the school at any given time, as well as know all the librarians considerably better after 5th period free. I developed my love for Cliff Bars, yoga pants, seat heaters, and coffee. I ate Key Lime pie in Key West, shopped in the Mall of America, and ate beignets at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans. I lowered my expectations and learned that everything more than minimum is just another reason to celebrate. I fell in love with Hungarians, Seagrove Beach, a new cheerleading squad, and even, myself.


I made good friends. Like really good friends. Friends that I wake up in the morning and thank the Lord for before I even get out of bed. And honestly, there are some days in that their's (and God's) support are my only firm guarantee. I love them through their stressful "I have six tests tomorrow so I'm just going to yell at you" days, their "I really like him/her...Do you think I'm being creepy?" days, and their "You'll never guess what I did last night at 2:30AM instead of studying!" days. And I am so sincerely thankful that they loved me through every single minute of my over dramatic, and selfish days. I've learned that even though some friends seem like they're gone forever, they always end up exactly where they left. I've learned that the friends who know how to break into your house in 3 different ways, bring you your favorite treat on a bad day, give you the best hugs that they know you enjoy, and tell you the truth no matter how much you don't want to hear it are the keepers. The ones who ring the door bell, encourage dieting, shy away from physical affection, and flatter you with white lies aren't even that fun anyways.


If I could do it again, I would relax. I would be thankful for my blessings rather than dwelling on my aches. I would sneak out and get in trouble for once. I would spend less time bickering when things didn't go my way and accept the fact that, yes, I come in second place majority of the time, but sooner or later, I will get to be first. I would be less self consumed, and use my energy having my Father consume me. I would smile and laugh more, cry and whine less. I would spend less time checking my twitter or facebook and more time engaging with others. I would yell at my brother less, sleep more on weeknights, go on more walks, and paint my nails a new color every week. I would have comfort in my good attributes rather than highlight my flaws.


There is so much I have done, and with that I can close out the last 12 minutes of being 17 in peace and utter joy. If you asked me, (and since I am blogging/rambling to myself you have no choice but to ask me) I would say that I definitely look back on this year in full satisfaction. And as for all the things I wish I would have done, I spend the next 12 minutes of looking forward to the promise of being 18.


To the Moon and Back,
Allie


"We are not the same person this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person." -W. Somerset Maugham

There's No Place Like HOMECOMING

***Sidenote: yes, I know that homecoming was over a month a go. But if you spent a day in my life you would understand how easily things get procrastinated off to almost non-existence.


There are few things in life like high school homecoming week. It's a combination of high energy, high stress, and just high excitement, and most of the time, you're too tired to even understand all of the "highs" you're feeling. And I'm sure I'm partial to my own Alma Mater, buuuuuutt I think we all know who has the best homecoming around. So here's what my week looked like.

Actual homecoming day. Cheerleaders and Dorians in our hip hop gear (note: we are all very, very white school.) And the "commoners" looking precious and classy.

PREGAME: As a cheerleader (name drop), I would say about, ehh, 50% of homecoming is our responsibility. As for the Homecoming pep rally, I would say it's about 90% our responsibility. So needless to say we started WEEKS before the day, getting decorations, routines, and a killer run through ready for the mayhem. I know you're thinking, "Allison, I know you think cheerleading is hard and everything, but y'all don't really do everything. And it can't be that stressful." And to that I say, "Well lets see what would happen if cheerleaders did nothing. And tell that to girl who had a mental breakdown about turtle tards on Homecoming Eve. Yes, TURTLE TARDS." Were talking daily 3 hour practices for 3 weeks before homecoming. That's 3 hours of nothing but blue mats, glitter, paint, and 32 different opinions about how things should be done. AHHHH.


But don't get me wrong; it's a labor of pure and utter love.


SUNDAY: The first ever JUNGLE JAM. Let me explain what Jungle Jam is to all you newbies. It was the day we 1) finished the run through sign 2)finished the decorations 3) delivered the cookie cakes. At the time, I thought that another 7 hours in the cheer dungeon would be a nightmare, but it was only like a bad dream at times. BUT we actually got stuff done. So our routine was perfect, our decorations were done, our run through was done, AND we we had the game plan set before the week even started. I think I can speak for every single MBHS cheerleader from the beginning of time when I say that I didn't even think that was possible.

MONDAY: Homecoming week officially commences with my favorite dress up day of the year, PJ day. Yes, it is on a Monday for obvious reasons, and no, it wasn't my first time to wear something to school that I had slept in the night before. It also was the homecoming carnival aka the most underrated part of the week. Everyone says that it's lame and that no one ever goes, but I absolutely LOVE it. And this year, as Secretary of Spartan Pride, I was enlisted to help my friends, Al-dog and Hannah (Co-Presidents), grill out hamburgers. My other friends were also recruited and so all 15 of us worked non-stop grilling, wrapping, throwing burgers to impress those condemned to the never ending line, and in true Brookie fashion, swing dancing. Must I mention again how my friends are the bomb?


TUESDAY: Hippie day. This means tye dye, peace signs, fringe, flip flops, and in my case, a psychedelic shirt my mom got as a Halloween costume a couple of years ago. All of my friends told me I looked ridiculous, and normally, on a dress up day, I would have taken it as a complement. But then all the teachers/principal told me how much they loved it. Needless to say, that shirt will never see the light of day again.


And that night was the one that every girl dreams of for a full 364 days, and if you're a sophomore, you've been looking forward to it ever since you first started facebook stalking the girls a year or two older than you. POWDERPUFF. Being the ballin seniors we are, we pre-gamed with a tailgate, cut up our shirts, doned eye black, and took about, oh say, a gagillion pictures. We even had a run through sign that I was relieved to not even touch for once. Some guys took up the roll of cheerleaders and held hands and ran in front, meanwhile we tried our best to look like the intimidating people we aren't and do the football pre-game hype yell. Even though I will argue sports to you until your ear is on the ground, my athletic prowess is non-existant. During the game, I stood on the sidelines just talking and getting table topped*. But have no fear, the seniors won (shocker).

You better watch your back, everyone who isn't a senior.

*Table Topped: (noun, verb). Attacker #1 crouches behind unsuspecting victim, meanwhile Attacker #2 pushes unsuspecting victim down over #1 onto his or her back.


WEDNESDAY: The chill, no activity night of homecoming designated for working on floats. That day was salad dressing dress-up, and let me explain what exactly this day connotates...Sophomores are ranch, therefore cowboy attire required; Juniors are 1000 island, so luau attire; Seniors are Greek, so we got to walk around awkwardly in sheets all day and call them "togas". I love this day, but togas just get on my nerves because some people (myself) can't tie a toga to save our lives, in addition to other everyday challenges like walking. 


That night we had senior dance practice, the moment everyone looks forward to, both dancers and viewers alike. But no one ever mentioned how stinking stressful it was!!!! So after another long practice, I come home to 40 offensive linemen eating dinner at my house. Not unusual at all. Gotta love insane football moms planning elaborate dinners for their precious little man-eating boys!


THURSDAY: Animal dress up day. I went as a mouse and didn't wear pants. And it was awesome.


That night was my mental breakdown night and was at the school until 9PM. I wont go into details about what went down but let's just say it was about that turtle tard thing I mentioned earlier, how to suspended a massive runthrough sign in the air above blenchers, pregame meal punctuality, and of course, the senior dance from hell.

I promise the routine was not this strange looking.

FRIDAY: The day has arrived and I awoke at 5:45 to get ready. Our 7AM call time was especially fantastic on this gray morning and everyone was in especially chipper moods. No worries, the cheerleaders were all enthusiastic by 8:30, and the turtle tard crisis was solved. (Here's the gist of that...There was discussion of whether to wear them or not. I said yes, because they looked better. No one believed me. Then they saw them the next day, and decided I was right. Roll tide.) The pep rally rolled around at 10 and students filled the Spartan arena, still fresh in their dress to impress attire and especially after our big Hoover win. We did the usual...ballin' routine, exceptional dance, cutting it close senior dance, senior superlatives, homecoming court announcement, etc. Oh yeah. I also gave a speech. In front of 2000 people. And I made up a word. But don't worry, everyone caught it and laughed hysterically at me.

Morgan: "This is not happening. GIVE ME THE MIC ALLISON."
Allison: "Well shat." (Facepalm).
Laine: "I''m just going to smile and pretend like this is not happening."

Then one of my absolutely favorite parts: THE PARADE!!! Where else do you get to practice your disney princess/college cheerleader superstardom and enthusiasm? You also take a lot of cute, all-American high schooler pictures that you put up facebook so everyone can see how absolutely precious you are.

I love these sweet girls so so so much.

The game was that night and we unsurprisingly killed Buckhorn. It was cold, still slightly rainy, and senior night...so I was frigid, frizzy haired, and emotionally drained. I finally got to wear my giant flower and have Marilyn and Cecil walk me out onto the field, and this time, I didn't taint my public image. HOORAY. 

Crying is for wennies.

Finally, the best part of the day (allegedly), the dance. About 40 people filled my house, getting ready, taking pictures, eating, and watching football. Pretty much a typical night at my house, except everyone looked particularly snazzy. We all caravanned to the danced and literally threw it down like it was the last time. Wait...ok, blocking out all "lasts" starting NOW. Let me take this time to explain how Mountain Brook dances work: there is no DJ playing top 20, it is a soul jazz band. Everyone swing dances and it is the single best thing ever. Good thing my date was a fantastic dancer, (and voted "Cutest" by the senior class. OHMMGEE i ToOk ThE cUtEsT bOy In ThE gRaDe To Hc!!!!!) and also good thing I'm not to shabby myself.

As the dance concluded, all friends gathered to Laine's house for a night of excessive eating, and the usual antics. Also a showing of Remember the Titans, The Hangover, and a three time encore of my performance from earlier in the day at the pep rally. Curse the day the flip camera was invented and was adapted to play instantly on TV's. I went to bed finally at 4:30AM, after being up for about 23 hours straight. And when I say I "went to bed", I mean all the other girls and myself collapsed at various, odd locations, only to awake at 11:30 the next morning dazed and confused.

Don't let our classiness fool you, these girls can throw down like there's no tomorrow.

I still can't believe this was my last homecoming ever. From stupid cheerleading arguments, to powderpuff games, to excessive swing dancing and cookie cakes, and to waving at little girls during the parade who you used to be, it's one of those things you can't forget. Not like you would want to, unless you're an anti-social, school-hating, dedicated to dieting, perfectionistic  dipwad.


Click your heels three times, and it's over before you realize it.
Allie


Xerxes: There will be no glory in your sacrifice. I will erase even the memory of Sparta from the histories! Every piece of Greek parchment shall be burned. Every Greek historian, and every scribe shall have their eyes pulled out, and their tongues cut from their mouths. Why, uttering the very name of Sparta, or Leonidas, will be punishable by death! The world will never know you existed at all!"
King Leonidas: The world will know that free men stood against a tyrant, that few stood against many, and before this battle was over, even a god-king can bleed.
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