So... whoever hangs out with me on a regular basis will know I have a thing with "adventures".

Growing up, while all the other little girls were watching Lizzie McGuire and other preteen garbage, I was watching Indiana Jones and The Mask of Zorro. I've wanted to go to India since I was five. I paid particularly close attention in Social Studies during the maps units so that on the off chance Momma Froc accepted piracy as a reliable career choice, I'd be good to go. (Little Chantelle = adventure hungry.)
Eventually, it dawned on me that my life was not going to be like a storybook. And it didn't help that I moved away from the city to a little town. Yep. I was hopelessly destined for a life of boredom and mediocrity. Insert big sigh here. (Teenage Chantelle = dramatic.)

Enter University year.

I keep in touch with one of my youth leaders from back home. We're basically BFFs. No big. Anyways, whenever I called or emailed her, and told her about my horribly normal life, she would respond with "Oh Chantelle.... What an adventure!".  For the longest time, I thought she was crazy. My life was the farthest thing from exciting. But I kept hearing her in my head saying "What an adventure!".  So I decided back in the fall that I was going to have fun this year. You only get one life after all. Might as well make the most of it. That, my friends, is why I call everything an adventure, even if I'm just going to get groceries. It makes life more fun.

I might not ever go to India. I might not ever sing in front of thousands of people on some massive stage. It's highly unlikely that I'll become a pirate or Zorro (I don't do horses). But then again, maybe I will. This is my life and I can do whatever I like with it! Y'know, because I'm a big grown-up adult and stuff. Ha.

Here is a sample of what I listened to today while I semi-cleaned my bedroom:

Dear Chantelle,

Right now your life seems pretty unbearable. I know that you feel like things will stay this way forever. I know how hard it is to get up in the morning and go to school sometimes. I know that you are disappointed that Mom and Dad have stopped coming to check on you at night because you've cried yourself to sleep so many times that now it's become commonplace. Right now, you don't think anyone loves you. You feel uncomfortable wherever you go. You have no idea what your life will be like in highschool, or even next year, and that scares you.

I have news. You survive this year. It is so, so hard, but you do. You may think that this year will ruin your life, but actually, it blesses it. You will learn and grow in so many ways. This year will suck, but it gives you something pretty awesome in return- empathy and compassion. In time, you'll be able to use what's happening to you right now to help other people.

There's something else I should tell you. You know how sometimes you sit in your room alone, and you imagine that your life is like those movies where the main character has lots of friends and they hang out and borrow clothes and have parties all the time? It will take a lot of waiting, but you are going to have that. You will get hurt too, but you'll make friends that will stay with you for a long time. You are going to meet some of the most incredible people in the next few years. I promise. And, you're going to learn that people love you. You're going to learn that not everyone is like the kids you go to school with now. You will learn to trust again. You're going to become a person that people like to be around, although it will take awhile for you to believe that.

Everything works out in the end. Believe me. Hang in there!
Love, Chantelle

P.S. You should probs learn to sew. It might come in handy with avoiding a certain pajama pants disaster in your ninth grade Home Ec class.

I knooooooow. It's late. Whatevs. I only have one class tomorrow and it's at one. I ain't even worried.


Here is my Friday To-Do List:
1. Fold and put away laundry
2. Learn all the lyrics to Beyonce's "Crazy in Love"
3. Start essay. Or at least read the pieces for the essay. Or at least pick the topic.
4. Pick outfit for Wind Orchestra concert
5. Fill out some more job applications
6. Try and find a home for the dozen cupcakes sitting on my table that I randomly baked today.

I think that's all the important stuff....

 Yesterday I had my first REAL sushi! I had had it before, but we had made it for a youth group activity, and it just had crab meat in it. I liked this item on the menu:

Happy Things:
-Today was Adventure Wednesday. Excellent lunch and company were involved.
-Purchased tickets for more concerts today!
-The Crazy Week of Music is half over!
-I had a good hair day. I missed my bus in the morning, so I went back home and did my hair for an hour. haha.
-My parents might come visit soon!
-chats with friends
-Our choir director Ruth brought oreos for us to secretly eat during dress rehearsal. But I didn't eat mine secretly. I wanted to make the other kids jealous.
-My new record for minesweeper on hard is 2 minutes and 44 seconds. Previous record = 8 minutes, 42 seconds. Win.