winter break and the next four years

Well hey there bloggers! Alright, so i seriously wouldn't be surprised if none of you ever comment on any of my posts. Ever again. Because 3+ months away from this ol' blog i have here is waaay too long. Heck, I could have died and no one would have even known. But do not fear, I'm alive and somewhat well. Mannn, 8th grade is not all it's cracked up to be. But hey, some great things have come out of the year so far! Like yearbook, this whole slew of new people I've met, and all these different experiences I wouldn't have been fortunate enough to get anywhere else. So, here's a little bit about my winter break... We went back up north to Pittsburgh! Yay! And guess what traveled with me?! MY. NEW. CANON! Yesssss, fellow bloggers, you all heard me. My big Christmas present was my amaaazing camera, who I like to refer to as Norman(: I've gotten some great nature shots from hikes and just around town so I'll put those up soon, but as for now, I thought I'd introduce you all to my lovely family. So see that first picture up there? Those are my cousins. And my aunt. And me! And my brother(:




















Allow me to explain.. This is my best friend in the world, and her fantastic boyfriend! I only get to see them like three times a year, but we always pick up like we saw each other the day before. I love them sooo much.
P.S. We were playing football. Look at those game faces!



















Why this is my new friend(:


















This boy has been my best friend since 1st grade. He is NOTTT afraid to tackle a girl when he's playing football. I had bruises for weeks!












Completely unexpected. I thought the lighting was pretty cool!

These are my best friends. They're more than that, even. Family. I see them all of three times a year, but every time I come back, it's like I've never left. <3

abandoned? i think not.

Holy dang. Where have I been these past two months? Not on blogger, apparently. That much is clear for sure. So, if I haven't been on blogger, where have I been? ...

EVERYWHERE.

Not even kidding. Life as a teenager, while some say is lax, chill, spontaneous, etc, is very NOT those things when you're a teenager with the job of making sure a good yearbook is printed for the entire student body of your school in May. Yeah... when you have pages, the cover, and fundraising to take charge of, you don't really have much time to be 'lax' or 'chill'. Let alone spontaneous! But, rest assured my fellow bloggers. I have not died! Just thought I'd let you know I'm alive and well. :D And as for the yearbook, we're making some serious progress! Our cover design, (which I'm still in the process of planning and executing) is due next Friday. Oh joy. And then, there's the 50-some people I'm in charge of... If they don't get their pages done on time, I get the crap for it. I swear, if I have high blood pressure, it's definitely due to the stress of yearbook. Alas, I cannot complain. I'm loving every second of it. And all that stress? It's just part of the job(:

I'm worried. Concerned, alarmed, shaken... You name it. I live in a good, wholesome community. That much I know. But even in the best of communities, you always have that one slew of friends... The ones who are into drugs and other things waaay beyond their years. The ones I'd personally never EVER want to associate myself with. Because I, simply, am just not like that one bit. And I have good friends. Who are ALSO not like that. If they were, I would not be their friend. However, one of my absolute best friends in the world has been showing signs that they're starting to experiment with drugs. It makes me extremely sad that she's even having thoughts about doing drugs, let alone physically doing them. I'm worried. We've talked openly about her struggles and what's been leading her to experiment, but I know she's still doing them. I just want my friend back.

It's getting colder... Even here, down south. I have to say, I miss summer already. I cannot wait for the days when the harsh winter chill leaves our lives for another year, and glimpses of summer are noticeable. Yes. Those are the days!

pittsburgh pride.

Though I do not live there anymore, Pittsburgh will forever and always be home. And even though I'm many miles away, I can still get my Pittsburgh fix with the flip of a switch... The tv switch (: If any of you follow the National Hockey League, you'd know that the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Redwings are (for the second year in a row) in the Stanley Cup series. After the defeat of the Pens to the Redwings in last year's series, I'm really pulling for a win this year. It's funny, because while my family does get back to Pittsburgh on a regular basis (well, if you count twice a year a regular basis...) I still find myself thinking nonstop about the city I will always call home. Even though I am completely settled in my new town, I've made mannnnny new friends, and am involved in sports and other activities, I'll never, ever forget those early years of my childhood spent playing Capture the Flag on those dusky summer nights, those chilly September mornings spent waiting for the bus to pull around the corner, and those oh so treasured neighborhood snowball fights. You just don't find those kinds of things most places! The people I met... All the things I experienced... You just can't put a price on things like that. I'll always always always miss Pittsburgh... Knowing the amazing kids I grew up with are making their own memories without me just kills me, but I know that they are happy and living life to the fullest (: And I'm so glad they are doing that. But sometimes it makes me sad I'm missing out on their lives. All I can say, is GO PENS! BRING BACK THAT CUP! And thank goodness for technology... <3

Helloooo Pittsburgh!

I'm feeling homesick. I miss yinz guys :) Life here just isn't the same as life in Pittsburgh. I'm quite sure no place in the world is even remotely close to being the same as Pittsburgh. How bout them Penz today! Ugh. Let's hope they come back soon! Pitt is numero uno so that is very exciting! I just wanted to post this to let all of yinz know that I think of you often and you are never far from my heart. I wanted to see how everything was going and what's new with you all. Well, my Bio homework is calling my name so I'd better go do that :) Love and miss you all more than you'll ever, ever know. Hope to see you soon!

I wish you nothing but the best.

Kat <3