tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70925112761735942732024-02-18T20:40:47.395-06:00The HaleyverseHaley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-21919695016104332162012-06-13T09:56:00.001-05:002012-06-13T09:56:11.377-05:00Wow, three months???? Geez....I have to do a better job at posting now. Seriously. <br />
<br />
Anyway, things are still crazy here. Vee, my human, is still jobless, and the truth is, I haven't seen her since Easter. I don't know what's going on. I wonder if she's forgotten about us. <br />
<br />
School is out for the summer, and our future is still up in the air. It's strange, this state of things, not knowing what is coming from day to day, or even how long I'll even be here. It's the not knowing that's killing me. <br />
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Vee's behavior is quite strange, for sure. The fact that I haven't seen her since Easter is troubling. Harriet says she hasn't seen Vee in even longer. <br />
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I'd like to know what's going on and how to even deal. Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-55743734007337575522012-03-07T20:56:00.008-06:002012-03-07T23:31:42.690-06:00Sorry for disappearing again......but there are still A LOT of things going on in the Human's life. Vee is still on her job search and is currently getting over her 2nd sinus infection in as many months.<br />Anyway, on my end, I have indeed left Adams Middle School and am currently enrolled at Innerstar Magnet Academy, where I started after Christmas. It's a boarding school for gifted and talented girls, and I'm thrilled to have gotten in. However, I do miss my old friends back at AMS.<br /><p><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 225px; height: 216px; text-align: center; display: block;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717355313969046354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrnv8gLsEWYjO3NzRid1pAQnq_S8wJ_ElGUXdRlBELV36MBeHdFguFzeHmxX0q96AqcJpgofvlj9lUPda1MvV_vIXfTudk08Tt22vWNnuJihH9EmC8kJhqkhvv17Ejj_JMmiYH4wolhzx/s320/McKennaDollFace.jpg" /><br />This is one of my two new roommates, McKenna Marie Brooks. She comes from Seattle, Washington, and is VERY unlike me. She is a three sport athlete -- gymnastics, cross-country, and tennis, but gymnastics is her favorite. She left behind five-year-old twin sisters, Maisey and Mara (seriously, what kind of names are those?) She and her friends, Mia St. Clair and Natalie Spencer (yes that Natalie, her parents transferred her too) make up three-fourths of the Shooting Stars gymastics team at IMA. And they're ALWAYS together. She's a cheerleader, too. She's a three sport athlete and I'm a total klutz at ANY sport. Sigh. She seems so... <em>perfect</em>. Sigh again. </p><p>In my next post I'll introduce you to my other new roommate at IMA. </p><p>I look at the girls here at IMA and sometimes I don't think I measure up. They're all super perfect or super talented or three-sport athletes or musicians or actors. I'm none of those things. When I look at the girls at IMA, sometimes I wonder how I even got in. </p>Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-40788148859115515582011-12-19T12:50:00.005-06:002011-12-19T13:09:59.231-06:00An unexpected turn<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuqurFTD7CNt4Ro5OUyWI6T9kqIRA-608fuNmd62PXkxb8n6Zs9N9gQc7ku1pfa4hxnIRSdz8HUkTPvuLhlFeq2QY4_pC85art9TgtOBVq60Ofhqm1BC2XyYFynsap9OUCNLJjhKiDZox/s1600/MarieGracelogo.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 211px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 276px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687914093770703330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuqurFTD7CNt4Ro5OUyWI6T9kqIRA-608fuNmd62PXkxb8n6Zs9N9gQc7ku1pfa4hxnIRSdz8HUkTPvuLhlFeq2QY4_pC85art9TgtOBVq60Ofhqm1BC2XyYFynsap9OUCNLJjhKiDZox/s320/MarieGracelogo.jpg" /></a>My family research project took an unexpected turn last night. And I got my first big break.<br />My dad emailed me this photograph. "Who was she?" I asked. <br />"Marie-Grace Rousseau Gardner Hotchkiss."<br /><em>HOTCHKISS?</em><br />"She was my dad's great-grandmother. She was originally from New Orleans but she was raised in Pennsylvania. After she'd returned to New Orleans, she met John Peter Hotchkiss (of Quaker descent) when she was seventeen. The next year she married him and returned to Pennsylvania with him. The records say her name was <em>Mary-Grace Hotchkiss</em>, but that was because when she got to Pennsylvania she Americanized her name." According to the records, John and Mary Grace Hotchkiss had 6 kids. <br />Hmm, that explains why after the divorce my dad decided to come to Louisiana. Turns out I'm not the only one researching this family.Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-54988038631899106432011-12-16T06:17:00.003-06:002011-12-16T07:20:52.034-06:00Bittersweet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUc7NHo80A0H7GmZKT8Zog_Zs2f56-2Nx507sPOBW6tCsYXoev6Ty-3_M6Nn2-slrmobdFzQIJxc6oqrO5puyF8uJiQ4QeyVbR9j_YLtxGPo7C0-nfyFOun-_eGtqO1ioDCKzoLHrws6c/s1600/IMG_0274.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686699651757920354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUc7NHo80A0H7GmZKT8Zog_Zs2f56-2Nx507sPOBW6tCsYXoev6Ty-3_M6Nn2-slrmobdFzQIJxc6oqrO5puyF8uJiQ4QeyVbR9j_YLtxGPo7C0-nfyFOun-_eGtqO1ioDCKzoLHrws6c/s320/IMG_0274.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>My Innerstar gear arrived yesterday. </div><br /><div>And today is my last day at Adams Middle School. After the holiday, I'm going to start school at Innerstar Magnet Academy. </div><br /><div>You know what's strange? I spent two years trying to get away from AMS... and now that I've gotten my wish, it's almost like I don't want to go. </div><br /><div>For starters, I'm going to miss my BF Harriet loads. Unless she finds a way to get into IMA... but that's not likely at this point. IMA is for gifted and talented girls. </div><br /><div>Then, who is going to finish the yearbook? </div><br /><div>Oh, and one more thing. I still haven't finished that family history project, and it bothers me. Some of the other kids have come with fascinating stories. Harriet's ancestors had been enslaved. Kat Engel's family comes from Germany and Norway. Lindsey's family is Jewish. Kate Osborne's great-grandparents survived the Great Depression. </div><br /><div>So I haven't done a single solitary thing for the project because I've got nothing interesting to add. </div>Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-56871548391714897202011-12-03T19:21:00.005-06:002011-12-03T19:46:06.386-06:00Family TiesSince the holiday season is about celebrating families, every student at Adams Middle School has been given an assignment. We're to research our family histories. The project is due the week we go home for Christmas break, and some of the best essays will be read aloud at the annual Christmas pageant this year.<br /><br />My problem is, I have no clue how to even begin.<br /><br />I know from earlier research that the name <em>Hotchkiss</em> is English and Scottish, and that my father, Donald Leroy Hotchkiss, comes from a long line of Pennsylvania Quakers. There is this one site, hotchkissclan.org, but it doesn't tell me very much. Also, I don't know much about my mother's family. My mother, Jillian McCaughey Hotchkiss, is not very open about her heritage. My mother and my cousin Nicki's mother are twin sisters. Identical twin sisters -- in looks only. Personality wise they could not have been more different. Sometimes -- and I hate saying this -- I wish Aunt Joan was my mother.Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-14261519875857445592011-11-29T09:44:00.006-06:002011-11-29T12:06:23.281-06:00Catching up -- part deuxThe other part that has happened is that a bunch of girls have left. There are only a few of us actually remaining. Hilary's gone (again), and quite a few others have left, but I didn't know those girls well. Hilary's departure left the presidency open for me.<br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div>Meredith Hopkins no longer attends Adams Middle School, but that doesn't mean she's no longer a problem. Apparently she's now taken to calling me nasty names through my IM. How she got my instant messaging name and account I don't know. And I don't have a Facebook. Given what I've heard about Facebook, I'm kind of scared to get one.<br /></div><br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 321px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 233px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/LAwxrgal/Dollies/SANY2242-1.jpg" /><br />Safe to say the "Pretty Girls" are no longer what they once were. Meredith was so upset at Natalie for becoming cheer captain that she transferred to Hillside, the private school on the other side of town, and, I heard, became cheer captain THERE. And, I'm told, Meredith and Natalie are no longer on speaking terms, even though they live in the same neighborhood. I think Natalie's gymnastics training helped her become cheer captain. As for the third girl, Sasha, she spends most of her time now with glee club -- and the new girl, Cassidy Fitzgerald. And in my book, that's a GOOD thing.<br /></p><br /><br /><br /><p></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 328px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 233px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/LAwxrgal/Dollies/SANY0031.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><p>Speaking of Natalie, she and Harriet (yes my best friend) take a yoga class together and have the same PE period. I thought about signing up for the yoga class but with all my duties I've been much too busy. It's actually kind of weird seeing them laughing and talking together.<br /></p><br /><br /><p></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 305px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 216px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/LAwxrgal/Dollies/SANY1697.jpg" />And I have more news. Remember Antoinette, the French exchange student who spent time here a couple of years back? Well, she applied to attend Innerstar Magnet Academy -- and got in! So, she'll be at IMA when I get there! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Oh, and just this morning I learned that my twin Robyn Pickering's dad passed away suddenly of a heart attack. </div>Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-52730920508645290032011-11-27T15:26:00.007-06:002011-11-27T16:11:35.482-06:00Catching up<div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUn19rlx0ONz3PdrgnKRUYEU7lp2ONwyqkItnoP1womDzPpfW_Ylp4wlcXIrfBytkz8GB4j8XP3Mdg72GST3Mi18kuhefNg4LCPBZZ9_p3ix2d52Mp4TipZ1b4wMpu3PrrNwnphJMJSiVv/s1600/SANY1896.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679792785547397330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUn19rlx0ONz3PdrgnKRUYEU7lp2ONwyqkItnoP1womDzPpfW_Ylp4wlcXIrfBytkz8GB4j8XP3Mdg72GST3Mi18kuhefNg4LCPBZZ9_p3ix2d52Mp4TipZ1b4wMpu3PrrNwnphJMJSiVv/s320/SANY1896.JPG" /></a>Okay, I promised Sabine at AG Playthings that I would be doing an update entry. Vee's health issues and my own busy life have seriously cut into my computer time. Trouble is, I may have to do TWO because so much has happened since I last wrote here!<br /><br /><div>I may have stretched myself TOO thin. That's because I'm now (finally) Student Body President at Adams. Yes, I got elected to the position pretty much by acclamation (sp) because no one else ran. You got that right. <em>No one else ran. </em>Right now, for example, I'm coordinating the holiday food drive. </div></div><br /><div>Also, I'm in charge of all of Adams' student publications. That means the newspaper, the yearbook, everything.<br />And that isn't all. I'm also president of Jr. Beta club (which is an honor society for kids who have been on the honor roll) and volunteer in the library.<br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679796602399493138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzkvLkfCFDWh7iBNpwuGrPH32R-FDZMMTWwIBpDK4LOlJoaYzJK_QYXRYZxTzND-_tdTP3931BZtyALwpuOBacUrQ4-zbktag1ro2KzQuIYKtgrXYnQcBebaodnTezuQVxbXaVgwQLFy2/s320/SANY2240+%25282%2529.JPG" /> And you'll never believe what ELSE has happened. Natalie Spencer (yes that Natalie) is now captain of the cheerleaders. She beat out Meredith and boy was Meredith ANGRY. Meredith was so mad that she transferred to the private school on the other side of town, our biggest arch-rivals, Hillside Academy. Harriet says it's karma. I say Meredith got her just desserts. But Natalie being cheer captain is just so... weird. It really is. And it's even weirder cause she's kinda sorta dating Ethan Bergman. As in my friend Lindsey's older brother.<br /><br /><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679799487659529170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaaI7_9cO7Cmyncbvq9opgj_wtPgDdPhkee49grwYO9b7OmelWT-c2ZQC41WL_bEl6VKnUsOT1x17QI8O3TH0ggsHhJhyphenhyphenpsauooT4tH2GOHcbjM-ulHn9hWNAWJj847B8RImfSMMWfcD6/s320/SANY2023.JPG" /><br />And to think, Natalie looked like THIS when she got here. Sigh.<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 189px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/LAwxrgal/Dollies/Yearbook/SANY2284.jpg" /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Oh, and one more thing. When I came back this new girl, Cassidy, had formed a Glee Club, and Harriet of all people had joined it. I don't know her that well, but the other day she asked ME to join. Seriously. I can't sing a lick. Neither can Harriet actually, that's why she eventually quit the club. Anyway... I think she's playing Clara this year in the Nutcracker ballet. </div></div>Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-6748392341715075112011-06-13T09:12:00.003-05:002011-06-13T09:25:09.965-05:00I'm BAAAACK! (for awhile anyway)Missed me? I sure hope so! (cue evil maniacal laugh here)<br /><br />Anyway, my human Vee has been sick. Vertigo she says. And a lot of stuff has been going on.<br /><br />Well, Harriet is in Wisconsin, at the big doll hospital there. She was in a big time accident. I hear she's having eye surgery. <br /><br />I cannot believe Meredith Hopkins is entered in Miss Playthings. I'm not a pageant girl myself but I wish Vee would have talked to me first before the entries went out. I think I would have been as good an entrant as her or even better.Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-8261440360526700652011-03-15T11:17:00.003-05:002011-03-15T11:22:37.930-05:00Rabbits in the Yard<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDbYxke42Lwn0wkeiaSey347JD9TJFZcGqQKQDuTbi3zVVAVFqiFxz1qT3JSE1sLIWHeH_GHMMA0OYiLgNx4Ifm6aADlq6s4ZOXLdvM60vUjE0B_03t09RjNgwRHLrt9e0r-C1cjQWw0J/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584341945257668306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDbYxke42Lwn0wkeiaSey347JD9TJFZcGqQKQDuTbi3zVVAVFqiFxz1qT3JSE1sLIWHeH_GHMMA0OYiLgNx4Ifm6aADlq6s4ZOXLdvM60vUjE0B_03t09RjNgwRHLrt9e0r-C1cjQWw0J/s320/IMG_0012.JPG" /></a><br /><div>So, Vee's brother-in-law was mowing the lawn this morning when he found a nice surprise in the yard... Not one, not two, but THREE bunny rabbits! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584342272611396674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgYhZnys0WkWhSnHHgZYCK9ZDb_3cr0dw-z992Py0lOD6pzBVkG_c5zjE0Ep9heCyhdwusNrsX3Oq5514ITbbIchwCzEXOW2QEgit9660Cbcr3IfVdLZogcJ1gg6Hv_-nM7xSRO9AlPY0/s320/IMG_0010.JPG" /></div></div><br /><p>So now I have one, Harriet has one and Lindsey and Kate have one. Now can you guys help us name them? </p>Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-58279456537790224452011-03-08T20:30:00.005-06:002011-03-08T20:48:44.366-06:00History of Mardi GrasMy apologies for the lack of posts here, things have been super duper crazy this end. I mean, they usually are crazy but they're crazier than usual this year.<br /><br />Today, of course, is Mardi Gras here in Loozeanna. Vee was never really big on the holiday, and that's because the way she was raised, her parents weren't big on it either. Anyway, folks dress up in crazy costumes and dance and party all night and throw beads at everyone and pretend to be kings and queens. So, being the history buff I am, I'm gonna tell y'all a little bit about Mardi Gras.<br /><br />According to the site <a href="http://www.holidays.net/mardigras/story.htm">holidays.net</a>, the ancient Romans probably started Mardi Gras. Or, the festival that Mardi Gras was based on. It was called Lupercalia, and it consisted of days of partying and drinking. Sound familiar? It should, read on.<br /><br />The Christian church adapted the holiday as a way of helping the ancient Romans convert to Christianity. They decided to make it a last week or so of partying before the period of Lent, the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday, which lasts usually about 40 days. I'm not Catholic so whatever...<br /><br />Anyway, the holiday spread across Europe, and to make a long story short, the French brought the holiday to their new homes in America. The term <em>Mardi Gras</em> is a French term meaning "Fat Tuesday" -- Sophie and Avery would appreciate that one, I think. I'm still learning the language. <br /><br />Read more at <a href="http://www.holidays.net/mardigras/story.htm">holidays.net</a>.Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-71157999019717763642011-02-16T09:32:00.009-06:002011-02-16T13:58:09.936-06:00Nominated!Well, I checked my email on V-day (yep that same day when I found some classmate had written in my notebook) and found out that...<br /><div></div><br /><div>WE'VE BEEN NOMINATED!</div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 140px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574313462837194354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPJ9BNnV8c3mDj76U5fgS9sYKX73RJeZC9HF7ou_TbOw8Qdi-TroksJ0gQioCGUEfbpnKEKkNk2JvYRqulI1ngQiK8TxPMk3Q4uDUN_5Q5SgS6cz-65p2qXxiPfTKCbf80DJQNE90MEFU/s320/AGPTAANom.jpg" /><br /><div></div><div>Every year, the AG Playthings Message Board does this grand end-of-year ceremony (sorta like the Oscars but for us American Girl dollz) and there are all these different categories.</div><div>Well, we at <em>The Haleyverse</em> have been nominated in the category of Best Writing! </div><div></div><div>We are thrilled for and shocked by the nomination, and thankful to whoever nominated us. We also realize here at the 'Verse that our fellow nominees are also some of our most loyal blog friends and followers, who have been here since our beginning.</div><div></div><br /><div>If you want to vote for us, please do so <a href="http://agplaythings.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=2010&thread=62491">HERE</a>. If not, we understand. :D We sincerely thank you for following us. </div><div></div><div></div><div>Oh... Sophie suggested that we try to track down who might have written those words in my notebook. The handwriting in it is not Meredith's, Natalie's or Sasha's, so we're stumped as to whose it is. </div>Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-814243674395315162011-02-14T15:53:00.003-06:002011-02-14T16:34:09.931-06:00The Worst V-day EVAR<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzey3aiqu77ewUFTYsVmEgbtDBPa_TK1eLS_eKLZqGUCJWh06VbR1ErGHoQy1xRHpHUFtNPgWKV62E7mAFOoiKuCc_TXBNvMmdpDgSpYhyphenhyphenyyCa1PBd14whlRYnIdSKiTuWqnEexwB3y5D/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573674112763579602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzey3aiqu77ewUFTYsVmEgbtDBPa_TK1eLS_eKLZqGUCJWh06VbR1ErGHoQy1xRHpHUFtNPgWKV62E7mAFOoiKuCc_TXBNvMmdpDgSpYhyphenhyphenyyCa1PBd14whlRYnIdSKiTuWqnEexwB3y5D/s320/IMG_0005.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Heya. C'est moi, I know I've been MIA lately, but it's not my fault, really. Things have been really crazy at school and Vee has had a lot of stuff going on. She left town because her cousin died. She's really depressed about it. Sounds like they were close. </div><div>Anyway, today was the first day that really felt like spring. It was nice and warm so I even broke out a short sleeved shirt for school. </div><div>Poor Harriet. Harriet's grandma is really really sick, we don't think she'll make the end of the month. She's been in the hospital since the end of January. Harriet's been staying with me and Vee for the time being. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573675594114149138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSse25CqLEPvu6mBM2EEfNcIUspBDk3gHJ3slZ-_zTKz8KR_Sdq6bBAvFcVkfUMRviaUr_HWTckUIvPj_6QHCtwY3zwpvcuMsLuywBxHpAMGtiJN9egZPS24qUUgiwKJ0TQN5fMlFSdWzD/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" /><br /><div></div><div>Anyway, I just had the worst V-day EVER. Seriously. I found this written in my math notebook. I'd accidentally left it in my desk at recess and when I came back that's what I found. Plus the only valentines I got were from Harriet and Kristy and Lindsey and Kate. Oh and I got an email from Antoinette. Not a single one from Chase Benson.</div><div>Who's Chase? </div><div>Chase Benson moved here from Georgia. He has sun-kissed blond hair and greenish eyes and ohhhh.... listen at me prattling on. Anyway, Chase doesn't know I exist. </div></div>Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-7163113988494475712011-01-22T10:13:00.000-06:002011-01-22T10:14:16.264-06:00One more thing......and this is gonna be super quick...<br /><br />I found out the boy Natalie is crushing on ... is none other than Ethan Bergman. As in Lindsey's brother.<br /><br />Ewwww.<br /><br />Talk on.Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-90135530866324757202011-01-16T15:18:00.005-06:002011-01-16T15:41:21.475-06:00Apology and report card timeHey y'all, I'm sorry for the lack of posts this end. Vee broke her digital camera, again. This time she says she sat on it!<br />Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah. It's report card time at AMS. Yours truly didn't get one because she didn't get back until the day before the holiday pageant. I'm hoping to get one next time.<br />Harriet has a D in math, and this was only because she's been going to tutoring after school. Otherwise she'd be failing. I may have to step in and give her some extra tutoring. Natalie is failing both science and math, Mia is failing social studies, Lindsey is flunking reading, and Kate managed to pull down straight A's.<br />Anyway, I know why Natalie is failing. She is pretending not to know the material in order to impress this boy in her class. Really, I think THAT is dumber than anything. Pretending to be dumb to impress a boy? On what planet does 'being dumb' impress anyone?<br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562898688983354818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QlbHh74IoLLOPVk8MmY_6yhaT73c4NkjhX0yBAgqrAyCs7K0-Rn8ihG5Th-NyZEI8pWwz5uE9DynVig7yMLPUt3-Qby7dITOYdY2d1Qpe_G6SwiZn9sW3E-B4ZRZLeui2QqZDMtzgQ00/s320/SANY0068.JPG" /></p><p>Oh, before I forget...<br />Antoinette came into my editor's office before she returned to France. We actually had a fairly long little chat. </p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562899402843042082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBQO_1mMHDnxnur7CgVxImJFsrejX2z4DN6rRqQ_VIkJcgaShA-HP8Yc4xcdjCoJfwUSJYf330Vd0WnMvry2LB9-JKnlXhjOXe3XgFOWNA-ktdASpkxg5sUwjgscgQ7PvS77YsAfOGDul/s320/SANY0069.JPG" /><br /><p>She told me that she was applying to attend boarding school in the United States. </p><p>"That's great, Antoinette."</p><p>"My parents don't want me to come to the <em>Etats-Unis</em>," she said. "They want me to stay in France."</p><p>"Have you talked to them?"</p><p>"<em>Naturellement</em>. <em>Absolutment</em>. But there is no convincing them."</p><p>"Maybe they'll come around when they see how many friends you've made here. Everyone at the paper misses you."</p><p>"And I them."<br />I told her to keep trying to talk to them. And show them all the pictures you took of everyone here. </p><p>We exchanged hugs and email addresses and promised to keep in touch. </p>Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-50107265143318485402010-12-31T13:31:00.002-06:002010-12-31T13:35:46.464-06:00More traveling pix!<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/106353202537886883863/MoreAssortedTravelingPix#5556923190065560034"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556931269422721106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuex7PkxTMTpnTmjPZVUHFNc5YLwoOhnj_bfcScW-U4TlCM7JmMtIUqkdmTANqC9EUbhuIPs-VLSs1lzutj_78T-Me2jKWoLTriayW9fIHqMhcH8jpg9gRHBLqeeQ-FKElT-7kvi4g6yy8/s320/IMG016.JPG" /></a> Hey everybody and Happy New Year! <br />Have any of you made any resolutions yet? I've decided that I'm not going to make any, because they end up broken within a week. <br />Before I go, though, Vee's camera is broken (again, this time she says she sat on it!)...but I have new (to us) photos for y'all, courtesy of the disposable camera I brought along on my travels. <br /><div>Click on the pic to see more! </div>Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-63444110802092105882010-12-25T19:27:00.004-06:002010-12-25T19:34:56.860-06:00Merry Christmas!Hello everyone, this is a brief post to wish everyone out there a Merry Christmas (what's left of it, at least in the States LOL).<br /><br />I already showed you most of my presents, the new Pretty and Plaid outfit and the charm necklace and my new wire specs (actually these are the retired version of the purple glasses from AG). I also got the now retired Scarlet and Snow outfit, too.<br /><br />We have a Christmas tradition here, one I'm just learning about. During the Christmas season people here go on the levees and build these wooden bonfires, and on Christmas Eve these bonfires go up in smoke. I wanted to go see the bonfire in smoke but I wasn't feeling too well and it had gotten cold.<br /><br />Oh and I'm told a new girl is here too. I haven't seen her nor do I know her name.<br /><br />What did you guys get for Christmas? Spill it in the comments :DHaley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-2760104663477493532010-12-22T01:51:00.000-06:002010-12-22T08:15:32.917-06:00Blessing in Disguise<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6odlHNDCwTN6-_5YVChWoUWo9yEl9qb7UbG-wuiht1FedpQWjGqbfIFv-WeeWO8qEZxkfDWW8TNz6SLlQerXnAqPjVIHOm8LVzLjQlAJ45HdpwBXAD4nIuJvSGwyVVeVk917Ke49itdT9/s1600/SANY0063.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552112926061585458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6odlHNDCwTN6-_5YVChWoUWo9yEl9qb7UbG-wuiht1FedpQWjGqbfIFv-WeeWO8qEZxkfDWW8TNz6SLlQerXnAqPjVIHOm8LVzLjQlAJ45HdpwBXAD4nIuJvSGwyVVeVk917Ke49itdT9/s320/SANY0063.JPG" /></a><br />Because I don't have the student body presidency to worry about (ironically that was the job I wanted since I got to Adams) I could devote my attention solely to the newspaper and yearbook. And with that in mind, I got some news that shocked me. I, Haley Elizabeth Hotchkiss, was named editor-in-chief of both newspaper and yearbook, succeeding Megan Ryder, who moved to Stamford, Connecticut, this year. Mrs. Baldwin even gave me a fancy title -- director of student publications. This means that anything that's printed in any student journal has to go through me. I kinda like this idea. I've got big shoes to fill but I think I'm prepared.<br /><br /><br /><div><div><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552112932633644754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKjDkCieCVUGI-D_gPgHnf2n0JQtT2fCnCvjg3dDZOXpYR8gBcR5vJ6CPObh21UxsVULPsueqLI5A56ml0L51lkW-hKg5tYA5jlpbsqYMb8_0V5Hw1_GeVX9kvGyQEMpbgVEzcVw1Zh1f/s320/SANY0062.JPG" />With this in mind, I started decorating my desk. At the right is the "Follow Your Dreams" book Wendy gave me in California, that I read sometimes and sometimes I use as a mousepad. There's a crocheted charm Marina gave me in New Hampshire and Kirsten and Mrs. Linda gave me a teddy bear. On top of the computer is the peace charm Alexi gave me in DC.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552112935556532146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Rm-GJShXfd2xo1iiywFExBNDJhlgDkrNxmW5b3Y8Th-7BjQGx9m2JgiZ9T7mZms0gBDM-pZcBgN5V2H0XCC42bFP-56kdJDA2zQVl4jU10IramuE4tZEpHYKOGbEXqZo8Kg6ffAV9u5W/s320/SANY0067.JPG" /></p>My first order of business as "director of student publications" was to meet with my staff. Isabelle Yarbrough was first. She's a new arrival, from Dallas, Texas, and she's the photographer. She has blond wavy hair (that she usually keeps in a braid), brown eyes, and darker freckles than mine. Lindsey says she's seldom <em>without</em> a camera around her neck.<br />"Hi," she said with her Texas twang, extending her hand out. "You must be Haley."<br />We talked about darkrooms and digital cameras for a bit and then we went to the yearbook. "We need to start getting club photos. Club photos, team photos, pictures of kids doing stuff."<br />Isabelle nodded.<br />I wanted to give them a glimpse of what I expect. I'm a perfectionist and I intend to run a pretty tight ship, now that my attentions aren't divided between student gov't and student printing.</div><div></div></div><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552492792049654034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHq3aj6lXB6IdKuxgop5YzhoLwDldZEWMPz5YjM91DpFrhRVuGfL10mO2JvhHYvbZG-lXo2iKQNwhtMeM-ifypzx5e9xYylCplnhmDs-uKj66uPwkKNnkviWvtHtnCYFLa2tNt_8WjiIk/s320/SANY0066.JPG" /></p><p>Next I spoke with Lindsey and Kate. Kate's taking over sports for Alison McCann (who decided to focus on <em>playing</em> sports instead of writing about them) and is the assistant newspaper editor. Lindsey's in charge of graphics and artwork. Not necessarily drawing but making sure the paper 'looks' good. Kate taking over sports is actually a good fit -- she's crazy about baseball, especially her hometown Cincinnati Reds, and knows a whole lot of baseball trivia. </p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552494374933998258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdS-3zJ3mPGWV3rgD5bhUjz6AaNAX3whcBh6YDz0K6AdEsnPsbFkusUsEsqrLFYJy9FMmkrS3_KAT-GZQlj58X5Jwup8u7iGDSe3ttHUxsXXaoQKhPrxa2FWT5rwTYImILgZrtAoesXLlS/s320/SANY0067.JPG" /></p><p>Last I met with Katarina Engel. Kat's actually really shy, doesn't say much, but boy, can she write. She's been the researcher because every time I see her her nose is buried in a book. I told her I wanted her to take a more active reporting role, and she made a suggestion I hadn't even considered. "Let's do a literary magazine," she said, "you know, for short stories and poetry and stuff." I would have to bring that to Mrs. Baldwin but I actually think it's a good idea. </p>Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-64014799688739888902010-12-18T09:24:00.009-06:002010-12-18T21:49:17.474-06:00The Big Holiday Pageant<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkV63ojtXK67AOdqJ210jO37OsGI8idUcmpkPAQGIx3lJ5MHI0SquK0ZxFONr5UVpXsZITZxgzWItjbngWCncrOpr6FGavLteU5oJuch0jX8ZWIhfg6UDjuAMDzHd4Lum6Vz3DnhJQ5Hx/s1600/SANY0052.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552043981148990786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkV63ojtXK67AOdqJ210jO37OsGI8idUcmpkPAQGIx3lJ5MHI0SquK0ZxFONr5UVpXsZITZxgzWItjbngWCncrOpr6FGavLteU5oJuch0jX8ZWIhfg6UDjuAMDzHd4Lum6Vz3DnhJQ5Hx/s320/SANY0052.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><div>So yesterday I was in the audience as the big holiday pageant was taking place. And yes, it was big. Too big for a lot of kids' tastes, as some of them walked out of the auditorium. </div><div>Notice the charm necklace I'm wearing. It came from the new Plaid outfit (I forget what it's called) and I have the 'smart' charm. Suits, huh?</div><div>Anyway, I'm seated next to Natalie Spencer and the current student body president, Hilary Lang, who I'm told beat out Meredith by one vote. I can't imagine what it would be like if Meredith had won. I doubt we'd even have had a holiday pageant.</div><div>So we have one. First off the Adams Glee Club (known as some circles as the choir) came out with a medley of Christmas songs. I'm still having a hard time believing Harriet actually joined this outfit.</div><br /><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552045731635569586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TSvmgf3k11e4pHzmqd7N1z_zTDm7JUs671VXx3NNyJ9VoF4QCZmT6N3ys3Ka_c2N_8OhPpp7_1q1AVfaryxIFumRodXtlHTtzUyHoVvZDHg7OOMrI1Bcd7flQeOYRfMc47i331vmgXDU/s320/SANY0058.JPG" /><br />There was a redhead in the front, with Harriet, Sasha Moore, and Vicky Vaccaro, and a few other girls in the back. Harriet told me the redhead is Cassidy Fitzgerald and she arrived in September from Kentucky. She's the one, Harriet tells me, who started the glee club after she saw Adams didn't have one. Thing is, Harriet never gave me any impression that she would do something like this. I mean, I'm happy for her but it's still a little surprising. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552047320058611378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvgQasWiUy58Ij9ppwmZhCngkpNow0wqZcGS3WoF5ZsLEnA5mgsTXxuAPmmZZwugndZHnGFMDTuuQfMF2Us7uhLzI84b23vqRnFY6dqdovd9-jkY-t-Rbc6iiw-WhNZ6BJ8qFZZiOW8A1/s320/SANY0059.JPG" /></div></div><div></div><div>Then Sasha Moore came out with what I had to admit was a beautiful "Silent Night" solo.<br /><div>Some of the other backup singers came out with angel costumes, with Mia St. Clair skating on the makeshift ice rink.<br />After the solo came the Nutcracker. Have to admit Meredith made a decent Sugar Plum Fairy. Maitte Luna as Clara was a nice touch. I don't know Maitte that well but she is a good dancer.</div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552049228524734738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xV8VMjmrG7aSupdqsQtkkK4qFUhprJBL0O38bsFpUMU0VvHvAJGotqL5-Fp_QyqI2G_wq3taqVSwnHOTiofjOmPx56NalzJLyzhYSS-XN_GffjkYTTmLhkP-OWd6bDqYNgzXvXFIRnio/s320/SANY0061.JPG" /><br /><div></div>And there was another big surprise waiting for me. <em>Antoinette</em>!<br /><div>Antoinette, remember, is the French exchange student who spent part of last year attending our school.</div><div>She showed up today, just in time for the holiday pageant. "Antoinette? What are you doing here?" I asked.</div><div>"My father is on a business trip, so I decided to pay you guys a visit." She laughed. "<em>Cet endroit n'a pas change</em>'. This place hasn't changed."</div><div>I decided to get her a seat somewhere in the auditorium to watch the rest of the pageant. </div></div>Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-39869652227745225612010-12-16T11:25:00.005-06:002010-12-16T12:09:05.264-06:00Good to be home (kinda)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8p26sJq_PUZTkloX_32FkBtR_wh-TLwW3QNAms1hyphenhyphenvanVD9Wd71v_o56Js5GcHTzeITMwbmH89OMOZAZc8-TzoRWGsevmjBNyU2ZqnCeFFEC3uWfNvKCCE9D15HCmmPEj3THqJWjfynqX/s1600/SANY0052.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551332497785680834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8p26sJq_PUZTkloX_32FkBtR_wh-TLwW3QNAms1hyphenhyphenvanVD9Wd71v_o56Js5GcHTzeITMwbmH89OMOZAZc8-TzoRWGsevmjBNyU2ZqnCeFFEC3uWfNvKCCE9D15HCmmPEj3THqJWjfynqX/s320/SANY0052.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Hey y'all, it's me and I'm home.</div><div>Well, it still looks like home and it's still in the 70s like home (unlike the layers and layers of snow I was in back in Oregon) but everything about AMS <em>feels</em> different.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551334983043597714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirI7aTkcEzHdBuHwrasEl4G0rip5ILFRLax8Ihx-lUJcucPG9ed9zqjf9HM6Z3lqDt36-ZV5o5KeVzzUeTMrL9c9Vr7jIuSBOediQOLZLPIuuZuNz-PSOYwRY9zjEbYEfFjlJioqAfN7Dx/s320/SANY1552.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><p>For starters, the place is aglow with holiday spirit, given that the big pageant is tomorrow.</p><p>And speaking of the pageant, I've heard it's going to be the biggest ever. Hilary Lang (who returned this semester from California) was elected student body president, and she's been working hard on it. There's a Nutcracker ballet, with Maitte Luna (Marisol's sister) playing Clara and Meredith Hopkins as the Sugar Plum Fairy. The all-new Glee Club (I think that one was the idea of one of the new girls) is singing a Christmas medley. Mia St. Clair is going to do a special ice-skate. I've even heard that one of the new girls convinced <a href="http://luckylovablelindsey.blogspot.com/">Lindsey</a> to sing a Hanukkah number -- in Hebrew.</p><p>I hate to say it, but Hilary is doing as good a job as student body president as I would have -- perhaps better. </p><p>That isn't the only thing that's different at AMS. Meredith Hopkins' vise-grip over the upper-grade girls isn't quite as tight as it was. </p><p>Sure, she has her chosen group of girls she hangs with, and I'm sorry to say Natalie Spencer is one of them, but there are some fissures in the group. Harriet told me yesterday that there was a fight at Natalie's birthday party. I'm not sorry I wasn't at that party. I was on a plane headed back. </p><p>I'm beginning to think they really wouldn't miss me that much if I transferred. Especially to that Innerstar Magnet school I'm looking at. </p><p>Hey, how do you guys like my new profile pic? And the in-progress re-design of my blog?</p>Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-90810335199694327442010-12-15T14:31:00.004-06:002010-12-15T14:35:46.001-06:00I'm HOOOME!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4c68X9tTz28ZJ4C0moU7rJ4dvpDUsTX5YIXgMkKKtygPGZ5SqoLR1WC2xUuelPv14XYlvhuDnrQHGE39db2VhkneMIOaDHU-Oef7BGpBlkQKQuYJ6yJ2eGTU2k25EvU81Y4TrJNNzFnT4/s1600/SANY0053.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551009435940658850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4c68X9tTz28ZJ4C0moU7rJ4dvpDUsTX5YIXgMkKKtygPGZ5SqoLR1WC2xUuelPv14XYlvhuDnrQHGE39db2VhkneMIOaDHU-Oef7BGpBlkQKQuYJ6yJ2eGTU2k25EvU81Y4TrJNNzFnT4/s320/SANY0053.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Yep it's good old me, back home in good old Loozeanna, just in time for Friday's holiday pageant at school. </div><div>Like my new specs? The eye doctor hooked me up with 'em after my old ones broke. I have another new blue pair that's plastic but these are wire and I prefer them. </div><div>Also redesigning my blog since I no longer have the 'Traveling' prefix in front of my name. </div><div>Harriet and Lindsey tell me 5 girls arrived since I left so I better get to know 'em quick, lol. Talk soonly! </div>Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-82173818647470527232010-12-12T20:40:00.005-06:002010-12-12T20:54:38.934-06:00The Birthday PartyHey, it's me, Harriet again. Sorry this is late, but I actually got caught up in some other stuff.<br /><div>Sophie suggested that I go to Natalie's party, if for no other reason than to write to Haley about it. So this blog entry is for Haley more than it is for anyone else. :P</div><div>I'm trying to get the hang of this (Lindsey showed me how to upload pictures from the digital camera to the computer).<br /></div><div></div><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549991895361954722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1v_meAGI-5ePCDrrsjuWT1ZKntxFc4-PWj3IA3wI2yeCcFBDWacTQxKh4PYtYb0iAEsHnPAvMX7zbRD-JqIQgjYtvSCZyOu5UEgJBZ_km-Puc1iXuONqTIMYpjeGdvGUxex4cio_fj7gu/s320/SANY0058.JPG" /><br /><div>Anyway, here's the birthday girl, all dressed up in her new birthday outfit that I'm told was bought for her by Vee. </div><br /><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549992745369441714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUwfb2xVK1FEznaWLnfkkSCAL4r6dX8dJytqA27GRqqXf2h2TWzNdqRVWVwxXDr3u48uaUigoYhiZclAgy7bgFT_HGcwTVpdGwymFZwVeALO5wi1HRAq0isMu5_AOxj7H6q20B7KI5zCw/s320/SANY0059.JPG" /><br />"Hey, Harriet, glad you could come!" Natalie said, reaching for me to give me a hug. <div>I didn't recognize anyone else there actually, I didn't really know any of the other girls, except the ones from school.<br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549992751985666178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzR40jBzllx5EM1dg3h9y-pCA5HU79cCTiUp5UPHGp63nRhxcNSxLLr3zpOryDoIb146_y4XY0bAonCAZDRNQTG6zym6YHkxhxS3LT1xbteohKQTDQxWI2tABwOBx1bifCO578ji058l6Q/s320/SANY0060.JPG" /></div></div><br /><p>"What were you doing?" </p><p>I heard a familiar voice, and I knew who it belonged to -- the one and only Meredith Hopkins. </p><p>"Why'd you invite HER to this party?"</p><p>"It's my party," Natalie said, "I invite who I want."<br />I didn't even bother staying long enuf for them to cut the cake and do the other stuff. I decided I'd had enuf of Meredith and left.</p>Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-34041123280196725682010-12-10T15:53:00.008-06:002010-12-11T09:41:30.520-06:00Natalie's Birthday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZwqPJph2oOdFoqv6q9eu7uy64rmaFiYFF3BcXAJnXJqRFCrsjNa4XnfTQY-xQJA5Zs1UiGXYiffg7WeLLEY7ZRfw8J0c5kupRtY-7bBBSvqkRsQ39rAcr2w7lGbnjKyxn6s4eh2iwIqn/s1600/SANY0049.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549175236979717858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZwqPJph2oOdFoqv6q9eu7uy64rmaFiYFF3BcXAJnXJqRFCrsjNa4XnfTQY-xQJA5Zs1UiGXYiffg7WeLLEY7ZRfw8J0c5kupRtY-7bBBSvqkRsQ39rAcr2w7lGbnjKyxn6s4eh2iwIqn/s320/SANY0049.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Today (12-10) is Natalie Spencer's birthday. </div><div>And tomorrow (12-11) is her big party, "Natalicious," (not my word, I think it's Meredith's) at her house on Oak Tree Lane. </div><div>I heard them in the gym, the whole time, talking about the party. And she passed invites to just about every girl in the grade. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549177038011573090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IfCVLsg7y5lmX9TwMmbtbua0WpA2phYkCTh9mCK1W0UG0SkBxUMamLXIUE77b6e9eLkTxeioU5wmlpe9KB1rXTbj_ivZgdTWX5fWaO9nxD-cWUkPFqZWTsMHw0IS9rH230YyPvHih1lX/s320/SANY0031.JPG" /><br /><div>It's only after we're coming out of yoga that she reaches for her bag and hands me an invite to the shindig. I haven't decided yet if I'm going, I'm thinking of skipping it. It's not like I'll be comfy with that crowd. -- Later, Harriet ^_^</div>Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-92078659380708655742010-12-08T19:49:00.004-06:002010-12-09T08:21:08.198-06:00Snowshoeing!<a href="http://boltongirlstraveljournal.blogspot.com/2010/12/fun-in-snow.html"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548493884823136818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvxUf3CuvWNGyxPClhGFvBk5LVJUQEV71XMUaqi63kec6AkUaKfhe8z9lYb4CMEXAcO8WJR77fRlM4-BZQZuDqw6vdcBZZlWgdxpbRNYOPuy0GQvImzStNBT5qp-8FfYM_vZ664EYtIeW/s320/12-03-10+Snowshoe+003.jpg" /></a><br /><div>As most of y'all know, I live in an area where it just doesn't snow that often. So to see this much of the white stuff at once was a treat. Click the pic for more fun with Kelsyee and Morgan.</div><div></div><div>And yes, even more of me, Morgan, Kelsyee, and the white stuff <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/TheCrazyDollLady/120310SnowShoeFun#5548463241073544242">here</a>, <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/TheCrazyDollLady/120410Snowboarding#">here</a> and <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/TheCrazyDollLady/120410DogSledding#">here</a>. </div><div></div><div>Oh and guess what Lindz and everybody???</div><div></div><div>I'M ON MY WAY HOME!!!! By the time you read this I'm on a plane heading back to Loozeanna. </div>Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-91120140815592298342010-12-05T11:55:00.004-06:002010-12-05T14:26:14.367-06:00Just sayin hiHey, its me, Haley. Welcome to December. lol<br />Sophie said I should try to log on more often while I'm out traveling. Trouble is, Kelsyee, Marsali and the gang keep me really busy, so by the time I do get on the computer I'm bushed. I live in an area where it just doesn't snow all that often, and when it does it's usually gone in a couple hours. The last time I saw snow to stick (before coming here to Oregon) was when I was back in Pennsylvania.<br />Anyway, been keeping up with the updates back home. I can't believe Hilary won the election. I'm happy for her and even happier that Meredith Hopkins didn't win.<br />Harriet, your yoga outfit looks cute on you. And you and Natalie are tight now? Odd, lol.<br />Love the redesigns of Sabine's and the Bolton Girls' blogs. Going to redo mine when I get back home. I had the traveling motif and won't be traveling much longer. :PHaley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092511276173594273.post-1765663534199787222010-11-30T14:03:00.008-06:002010-11-30T14:25:37.934-06:00Hey y'all<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-77_eABhdqIWDu6OTv_4GqRXv2EALGDG3lHJNsEtLIbd6M1bVoZaBgYb0BkiMQ9lFp7n8j3ENBVH-qpSh2rdJXyuG3bssusVuf7w6LLFsicDnHDWoQuJlgAr_O3GgI_S-qBmdIjjIOad/s1600/SANY0018.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545436092885346930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-77_eABhdqIWDu6OTv_4GqRXv2EALGDG3lHJNsEtLIbd6M1bVoZaBgYb0BkiMQ9lFp7n8j3ENBVH-qpSh2rdJXyuG3bssusVuf7w6LLFsicDnHDWoQuJlgAr_O3GgI_S-qBmdIjjIOad/s320/SANY0018.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div>Harriet sighting here. </div><div>Why am I dressed like this? Well, I took up yoga after seeing it on that Innerstar U site. </div><br /><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545436699323621970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfomTQHL1zssnrCG06E-P0W3yGjunl4GGi-_gYX7mjOYF-U1hbtoBpqKnq1b8w_hlkUVIJcAtM1PCyHhOOkDIW2weQ2N5VfxYvRIzQFxBpAwfjvzdvtwBHYPENWfl-Ey0QBLDscfrBgOO/s320/SANY0019.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545436709443062002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFeeeC7n12VDuK16yMlZoHBzKdv5bBD9_ZyzSEocdjMhUPHlrcSuwqdrPt9ITt2aFQ9WdGOBqbr-P5MtWJn_yQ0GcWGgQuFdG4L-gNQKpjNcFi9rze_xqu5_KdxquC_nTM1y-Iy1Iysc1Y/s320/SANY0021.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545436713456792338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBdN5uxhui0Sucxxa6W87dT-SgtQzvYm0855tkQSIru11ahGqCHqQ-yeg5Xx0Kw8O0LuBdHzcjRYAwfx0PDBKykh4mdm03sb8zijoVjRgu3cAvN4kgbmxkR7Ja2xrurW49Mv67FkdfiOv/s320/SANY0022.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545436705197322066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCH6Ju1JPDvXY9PvjM0WI1lDvS6yWCyE4DP1PVOh3uiUayXONzVnsIyuLfwSnnUD_JhREP_obnoWhOEwt5t6RTo-bBPkeY7Mg73A8wQMTmPSUTAaK-HAfySyuNwzlUmOonmrPHBbVc8EZ/s320/SANY0020.JPG" /><br />There was an Innerstar U rep at the school a couple weeks ago, and now I'm taking an after school yoga class. I find it relaxing and fun. </div><br /><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545438283654723954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1R5YjGh9mU1HyYx-74zh5wRV3ap-YnlqwaV3rlsQLeNhYlCy4NEl4QfMugGsS6edqhGJ688j5o40vYRxKG8ximfrZMZ0UwsiIaBfR-2Lxp4ceQ-7oY1yfV9HpAUPETW9Yo3bBvJi7Q39F/s320/SANY0023.JPG" /><br /><div>Natalie Spencer (yes that Natalie) is taking the class too. You figure she'd like yoga since she's a gymnast. She even offered to partner me on a couple of exercises.<br /></div><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545439541119964098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8aU4ZJMz08QtOohaWkIto77sshudJMEyg_Wwp9EF9nDm2FEbe_kvGfb3aVHa2TcEBgY18TUXVf8meCJYKhsl7Z8zi5f2pI3eA83ugJfBsYGjFi6eszs6RBswALM3k7lLP972kxktUZHi/s320/SANY0027.JPG" /></div></div></div><br /><p>"You're doing real good with this," Natalie said. While we're taking the class together, I forget sometimes that she hangs out with you-know-who. </p><p>Oh and my friend Lindz @ her new blog <a href="http://luckylovablelindsey.blogspot.com/">Lucky Lovable Lindsey</a> says Haley's gonna be back for Christmas. I hope so. I miss her.</p><p>Ta-ta for now, Harriet ^_^</p>Haley Hotchkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615331454717929118noreply@blogger.com1