Journalism

Okay Okay I lied, " I'll try not to runaway this time" I didn't exactly run away.. I just kept telling myself "I'll blog tomorrow.." tomorrow comes.. "I'll blog tomorrow.." and so on.
But Hey, I didn't come on here to apologize to you.......sorta.

So, I'm a Sophomore now! :D Out of the 4 years... Sophomores are "eh." Freshmen get attention.. Juniors are energetic mini-seniors.. Seniors are really energetic and  they.. ah hard to explain. For me, one look and I'll know what year they are in. It's a little confusing for Sophomores... we either look like Freshmen or Juniors.

So let's fast forward.. First week of school.. on Thursday? [Friday?] I FINALLY got my schedule changed and switched PE into Journalism! Journalism... is amazing. It's fun but serious! Same for Advanced Photo.. Fun but Serious.
But for Journalism.. okay, So my dream job of Photo editor isn't mine this year. A senior Abby took Photo editor, but  hey, I was bummed at first.. being only "Just a photographer and writer." But it's her last year at Tokay and I don't want to ruin it for her. It would be a huge step too. I'd rather learn mostly everything first then I'll be ready to be Photo Editor next year! 
So today I found out that I'm going to cover JV/ Frosh Football! Pretty awesome if you ask me. Even MORE awesome because I actually know one of the coaches and I know the guys on the team.  So it'll be kind of easy for me to find out names and games..etc. And my assigned pages are Foreign Language and P.E. P.E. is so easy super cheesy. Always activities. Foreign Language is going to be a bit harder.. I don't have language due to my art classes. But all of my friends have language.. Just have to ask around I guess.
Oh!! Okay so at Tokay's Club Rush... A event during lunchtime when clubs have sign up booths and some have activities.. anyways, I was sent out to take photos.. and of  course.. out of a hundred.. there's always ONE fantastic photo that stands out.. I can't really describe it here.. but I showed the photo to Woo [If I haven't mentioned.. the adviser/teacher] and he said that it was a winner! So he said we re going to take that photo and enter it into the San Joaquin County Journalism Competition! :D Dude, these winners win BIG. Like a first place won $400 bucks worth of equipment. Also, of course, a plaque/trophies! So I am psyched!
Also... Woo wants my photo to be on This year's FIRST newspaper... FRONT PAGE. Ah! That's like, a really great thing in the journalism world! So I am soooo happy! :D

Ah, dudes, I am soo tired.. It's 12:35am Friday Night. After an exciting week of school.. I can't wait to go to bed! Haha, Do Not Worry about me running away.. I have so much to tell you guys!
WIHL! [write in here later] ~ Perez

Home Sweet Home

Started writing in this blog at the wrong time apparently because within 4-5 days... We were on our way to the fabulous city of Los Angeles. We were attending my cousin's graduation party. But, I'll tell you about the places I visited there. No Hollywood, unfortunately... But we were next door to Beverley Hills. West L.A. is gorgeous. Luxury apartments there that make your town's best houses cry. The block we stayed in was so.. indescribable. No kidding. All the houses & apartment complexes were all totally different. Like, the apartment we stayed in was:

• Like New Orleans Square.. with a twist..
• A yellow-tan textured color
• Flowers everywhere!
• Those beautifully crafted gates
• And it has balconies.

This picture reminds me of it! [Google image of New Orleans]

I also visited this outside mall. I'm still trying to figure out the name. But It was so huge and amazing! But the thing that bugged me... The teens looked all the same. Boys wore dark colored V-necks and skinny jeans. Girls, were just all walking mannequins! Haha, But here's where I went! Found the name! Westfield Mall at Century City.

It was pretty neat. Especially the theater! AMC theater..

it had:

• Famous quotes from movies on the floor
• Two stories
• A huge entrance with famous actors
• and Awesomeness.

• When you pick a movie they have this touch screen that says what seats are taken:

That kinda looks like this...

It showed the available seats in the theater. It was all new to me. I was all trippin' and the lady was like "okay..."
Here's the funny part: I didn't even get to watch a movie! xD

Haha, I'll WIHL. [I won't run away this time! Haha!]
Still Dazed,  Mira

Music and Lifetime Movies.

Music. We all love, right? There's so many genres... Rock, hip hop, metal, classical, country, blues, jazz, gospel.. gospel jazz.. and classical metal... Woah.. wonder if there's such thing? All pretty music while someones screaming their head off.. wait that's screamo right? Oh Well.
What's your favorite type of music?
I'll tell you mine while we're at the subject already..haha.
Classical, country, and soft rock.
Soft Rock as in Coldplay. You guys have to know Coldplay, right? Whether you like them or not.. they are pretty famous. I love Coldplay! I don't even remember the first time I listened to their songs. My dad used to always listen to them. The first song I memorized from them would be "Clocks" or "In my place."
I finally found out their band name years after.* Remember radio? We didn't have iPods yet then. Only CD walk-mans. And the tape cassettes. Oh yeah, we were old school, dudes.  Anyways, if you ever listen to the radio.. sometimes they don't really say the song and artist of the music they just played. Or did they? I probably didn't listen. The point is... I didn't really listen to the talking people on the radio so I didn't know the song names or band name..for a while. *Until My dad put on those VH1 music concerts. I read the name and said "Oh! so that's what they were called! Coldplay.."
Oh if you wondering what those asterisks  [*] were for.. It was for the story I was trying to tell.. 'cause I blammer on about something else while I try to say something..
Anyways! Haha..
Have you ever seen August Rush? It's my all-time favorite movie. It's a must-see for all music lovers.
Here's what it's about:

The story of a charismatic young Irish guitarist and a sheltered young cellist who have a chance encounter one magical night above New York's Washington Square, but are soon torn apart, leaving in their wake an infant, Evan Taylor, orphaned by circumstance. Now performing on the streets of New York and cared for by a mysterious stranger, August uses his remarkable musical talent to seek the parents from whom he was separated at birth. [from IMDb plot summary]

 It may sound boring or weird.. but It's an amazing movie. It has really good music. It's definitely a heartwarming story. The bad things that are holding back the movie or making the movie sound like a sappy cliche movie are the critics. Right now I was researching the movie and critics are harsh! I wanna see you make a better movie yourselves! Geesh! Also the fact it shows on television.....on Lifetime.  Highschoolers, we know Lifetime has all of those dumb movies that you used to watch in Health class. Blech, those movies are sometimes pretty depressing. But they are all the same. Lame C-rated movies.
I'm going to stop there.
Fin.

An entry you guys won't care for...about my Dream car.

My dream car would be a MINI Cooper. In Navy Blue!

 Wanted a MINI Cooper ever since I went on that road trip to Los Angeles.. saw a yellow MINI and fell in love! It was the perfect car for me I just knew it! Not the actual color and all.. I don't really like yellow. It's just not my color. Haha!
~
Another dream car would be  a Toyota Yaris in Blue!

Yes, yes, It's the same car as on the show Psych! (which is my all-time favorite tv show!)

Haha, See? Shawn Spencer and "Bruton Guster" xD He's name is Burton Guster... otherwise known as "Gus." I'll have to explain Psych in one of these entries.. I love the show!

So there you go! My entry that you guys probably have no care for!
"Wow, Miranda. Your dream cars. Fascinating!" [sarcasm.]
I'll WIHL!  
This useless entry was written by a Psych-o, Miranda.

Journalism... and the girl who introduced me to the opportunity,

I thought about taking journalism once... But I wasn't really sure about what they do in there and stuff. 

Until Raquelle Miller wanted me to take her place in the high school newspaper.. Photo Editor.

I was totally psyched! Like, They don't ever put freshmen in it. Or if they ever did, it'd be rare. 

I also heard (and I sort of already knew..) that it was all juniors and seniors. 

But then I thought about it.. Like, Hey, I survived Photography class.. I was the youngest in that class, right? So what could be the hard thing about fitting in if you already made older friends?

But here's the thing that's holding me back: Advanced Photography. 

Advanced is the class I got in for sure in elective. I really wanted to stay in advanced photo this year. 

It's going to be better! I'll already know most of the students. So it'd be fun!

Raquelle told me I remind her of herself when she was a freshman. She's been watching my work in photo and agrees I could take the job.

The day I met Mr. Woo [who is the Tokay Press/ Yearbook advisor] was pretty awesome.

So I was just waiting to talk to Mr.Cruz about the Final Foto Project and Raquelle and Mr. Cruz was just talking and I didn't want to interrupt so I just stayed low and quiet. 

Then, Mr. Woo came in and discussed some yearbook business and I saw a Senior Graduation flyer they were also discussing.

Then, once there subject dropped.. all three of them stopped and looked at me.

Mr. Cruz spoke first.

"Mr. Woo.. This is Miranda Perez. She's one of the best students in this class."

Raquelle added: 

"And I really want her on the team to take my place."

(You should of seen my face.. I was blushing so badly and grinning as if I found a billion bucks on the floor)

They went on and on.. I shook hands with Mr. Woo who exclaimed

" Well then what are you waiting for? Sign her up! "

I was seriously the happiest girl in the world. 

So many emotions welled up afterwards I jumped up and down and even had a big lump in my throat!

Those were tears of happiness, dudes. 

I remember in the beginning of Photo Mr.Cruz told us the best students may get the opportunity to meet Mr.Woo.

So ever since then, I have always wanted to be officially introduced to Woo.

It was my goal.

After I met Mr.Woo, Mr. Cruz gave me a 'fist bump' and said congrats..

He told me Mr. Woo opens up so many opportunities for you in the future if you are successful.

Like, Raquelle got her work in the local newspaper and won several awards

Ah, I'll never forget how the one introduction changed my whole entire day.

[Maybe even changed my Life if I became more successful in Journalism!]

So I'm thinking of definitely doing jorurnalism in Junior year. 

Wish me Luck!

Click. 

About the Design

Like the background? I created it myself! The butterfly and galaxy behind it... Photoshop!
I love Photoshop... At first it was like reading a dictionary in another language. But with some help with my college friend, Clay... a.k.a Cam.. I was a Photoshop genius!  Haha!
I used a music sheet photograph, wings, butterfly body, google's galaxy photo, a night sky photograph.. then all together = the photo! Pretty cool... Below, This is the actual full photo.
You could click on the photos to enlarge it

Also, This photo was created after... The one below.. (which I created also)

"Trapped Beauty" is the name. Yes yes. ^
Now.. the one that inspired me to make the one above... Is the one below (which I created!)

"Moonlight Dancer" Is the name for this one... Okay.. Last one!
The one that inspired me to make the photo above.. ^ is the one down below...(yes, you guessed it.. the one I also made)

So yes, I get inspired Very easily.. as you know! So That's it! My little gallery of photo manipulation! Hope you enjoyed... i guess! Haha! WIHL!

If I ever created a book... This would be the beginning.

    Everything… Everyone was blurry. Strobe lights created patterns in the mist. Dancing teenagers with masks bobbed their heads to the beat of the music, Feeling the beat’s vibration below their feet. The disco ball’s mirrored squares reflected the scene of the midnight party. I reached down to pour some fruit punch into a cup, then felt, or heard something’s going on. I turned my head towards my instinct and saw a golden mask. I tried to look closer and saw a blonde speeding towards the right of the room. Confused, I looked around to see if anyone else noticed. The party was still going. I set down my cup and pushed my way through the crowd. As I finally got through the blob of teens, I couldn’t find her.

    I looked to the right, seeing a dark narrow hallway. Curiosity overcame me as I stepped into the darkness. I stopped, closed my eyes and listened. I heard muffled screaming. I snuck next to the door and placed my ear against it trying to make out who is in there. I heard a male’s voice, husky and deep, growling. Then I heard high- pitched screaming; should be a female. My heart jumped as a gunshot went out. I gasped loudly then covered my mouth, knowing he must’ve heard me. I heard heavy footsteps come closer to the door and I scrambled to hide behind a large vase. My heart was beating faster as I heard the metal doorknob squeak as it opened. The shadows revealed a tall man wearing a coat, looking around. I was still holding my breath, terrified. He grunted, pulled up his collar to hide the sides of his face and quickly dashed out of the building. Knowing he’s completely gone, I stood up, and stared at the wooden door, daring me to look inside. My breath shakes as I reach for the doorknob. The doorknob’s metal was cold as ice, sending chills down my body. I took a breath and turned the knob, revealing the room with dark secrets to my very eyes. I gasped,

“Oh my God.”