Blue Cat Journal

A blog about a regular high school student's life. My name is RuiKou, and the cat's name is Aoya. Nice to meet you!

[ruikou]

Just a little busy

I couldn't update the journal due to recent tests and lab reports. I should be able to start writing again more frequently after finals are done.

It is getting late. Sleep is calling me.

Sweet dreams. RuiKou.

[ruikou]

Period 1 AP Biology Class

We were learning about cell respiration yesterday. The teacher's goal was to get through glycolysis in the 90 minute class period.

However, we have Jacob in our class. He easily gets confused over minute details, over complicates concepts, argues with the teacher, and ends up confusing even more people. And the class also has me, who also gets confused in the same details and backs Jacob up.

"We never get through anything in this class!" The teacher exclaimed. "The period 2 class is so quiet and we get through what we need to!"

I'm sorry teacher. But Jacob is so funny and it's really confusing where the two extra phosphate groups suddenly jumped in from.

Cheering all the detail-lovers. RuiKou.

[ruikou]

Halloween Themed

New header and avatar to celebrate Halloween!

[ruikou]

State Competition

It was the last time I ever stand on the field. It was the last time I wore the marching band uniform. It was the last time I got to do what I love with the people that I love.

The pitch went crazy for my last note because I was choking back tears. They flowed out after I snapped down my horn. Never again will I stand there with my section.

For the full band retreat, I got to stand in front with all the other seniors. The sight was incredible. Indescribable. Lots of hugs were shared after we were dismissed.

I love our band, our family, our brotherhood. This is something that I will never forget.

A cheer to all marching band competitors. RuiKou.

[ruikou]

Spanish class

I believe I learn the practical usage of the "popular" health topic in that class more than I actually learn spanish. We also learn how to reel in the opposite gender.

Why? I don't know. Today's topic was pickup lines. Every guy had to say one to a girl in the class. The teacher went in order, and it was Jake (the guy who sits next to me)'s turn.

However, he already has a girlfriend. The teacher tells him to choose someone anyways.

Jake: RuiKou.

Me: Why!?

Jake: If I got a nickle for every time I say someone as hot as you, I would only have five cents.

Me: Say that to your girlfriend, not me!

My pickup line was "If I was a nucleotide, I would be A so that I can be with U." Geeky? Maybe a little. The girls' favorite was "I am a thief, and I'm here to steal your heart."

Good night and sweet dreams. RuiKou.

[ruikou]

Where we come back to

This week is state week, and to uphold our tradition of getting something that will remind us of our hard work, our director got us fake dog tags with our name on it.

It's supposed to remind me of the work I've done, and to carry out excellence in whatever I do. However, to me it seems like an actual dog tag that soldiers wear. I'm going off to the last battle of the marching band war, and I know that I can come back here where I belong afterwards, whether dead or alive.

So I will give it my all, from my breath to my soul, in the state competition. I'll be fighting to the death with the others in our marching band family.

An oath to those who have a battle to fight. RuiKou.

[ruikou]

Physics Troubles

I took general physics my sophomore year, and I was good at it. I really loved the class, especially during the circuit unit. I took a year off physics to take AP Chemistry, and now I'm taking AP Physics C because I loved physics and I'm taking Calculus right now.

However, I was no where near ready for the level of physics in that class. I'm suddenly lost in the sea of physics concepts.

"This is momentum. You all learned it last year. Next! This is impulse, we learned it last year in general physics."

Apparently the general physics class had a new curriculum last year that included atwood problems and momentum. I've never learned them before, and now I'm hopelessly lost. My lifeline is my friend Allen (Not his real name, but I'll be calling him that from now on) who has taken AP Physics B last year.

I'd like to take this time to thank Allen for the countless hours he has spent reteaching every unit to me and helping me with my homework (at midnight).

A hopeful song to all who are lost in some subject. RuiKou.

[ruikou]

350 Hours

That was how long an average band member at our school devotes to marching band in a single season (calculated by our senior drum major last year). It's such a vast amount of time, yet it has gone by in a blink of an eye.

Regional competition was today, and we performed our hearts out. It was the first time this season that we were able to compete against our rival school, since our homecoming dances were on different weekends.

It was satisfying to see the results reflect our work, and hopefully made everyone else as determined as me to get even better for State competition.

All due respect to my fellow regional champions. RuiKou.

[ruikou]

Freezing outside

Marching band practice was brutal today and yesterday because of the cold. Yesterday was especially harsh because of the wind. I couldn't feel my hands at all at the end of practice!

A friend of mine in the sousaphone section told me that being really angry will make you forget the cold. He then continued to comment that he couldn't imagine me being mad.

Is that how people see me?I haven't had much of a reason to get angry during band yet. I chasten underclassmen, but I guess I haven't yelled at them.

This is for the quiet guys. RuiKou.

[ruikou]

Excellence is Contagious

We had a marching band competition today. The result was that we were placed first in both prelim and finals.

There's a school that competed today that doesn't have things together. Things just don't work at their school. It's their second year of having band after being shut down for 12 years for various reasons.

After seeing our prelim show, they decided to stick around another 5 hours to see us again in Finals. Our director told us that when we execute excellence, it will affect not only ourselves, but the people around us. The band members over there will now work a little harder, and perhaps start a revolution in their school. It's humbling to know that our actions can cause such a positive chage. No excellence comes without hard work, however.

Hoping you too are touched by someone's excellence. RuiKou.

[ruikou]

New Header Image

I finally finished it! The completion was much delayed due to marching band practice and ACT. I am proud of my new work.

Stay classy. RuiKou.

[ruikou]

Sectional Yesterday

It seems that our section leader has divided the section into two groups. One is the mature group (which I seem to somehow be a part of) and the immature group (mostly underclassmen). I could really observe the difference in action and attitude between the two yesterday.

We talked about our upcoming competition on Saturday, and what our section could improve on. While the upperclassmen were perfectly serious, the underclassmen seemed unable to keep their attention focused on the discussion. While it was entertaining watching their thoughts wander and come back to the table everytime our leader scolded them, it made me wonder whether the baritone section would be OK next year.

4 out of the 9 members in our section are seniors, and another member is being lent to us from the mellaphone seciton. Unless we get new freshmen, there will only be 4 members in the section next year. And I dare say I don't trust our sole junior member with the section leader position (although it is not my decision to make).

Most of our section members did not start on the euphonium. 4 started on trumpet, 2 on french horn (including me), 1 on tuba, and only 2 were originally on the euphonium. The 2 orignial players are seniors this year, and next year there may only be transferred euph. players left in the band. I am worried about the section's future, although there is nothing within my power that I can do to help except try to promote growth in the remaining members.

I apologize for the long journal entry. I must be tired.

Hoping you aren't having a sleepless night. RuiKou.

[ruikou]

Section day-out tomorrow

My marching band section (baritone, which is clearly the best instrument) is going out for ice cream after school tomorrow. Apparently it's not all for fun, and leader told us that there's going to be some business involved.

I wasn't able to go to the section night-out last time (and the only time), so I'm looking forward to it. I'll post how it went tomorrow... if I have time (I've got a band play-test on Wednesday that I need to practice for).

Hands down (up?) for the baritone players. RuiKou.

[ruikou]

An entertaining memory

It happened when I was a sophomore.

I went shopping with some friends, and suddently the girls decided to go to Victoria's Secret.

"Um.... OK. We'll wait outside." I didn't have business in there, but of course the girls wouldn't listen.

So a good solid half-hour was spent being forced to give feedback  on the girls' lingerine. "Yeah yeah that looks fine. wait, what you want me to help look for the right size? uh....."

We got awkward and sympathetic looks. Girls, please do not drag guys into VS. It's not an experience that is needed in life.

Cheers to all the brave guys. RuiKou.

[ruikou]

It's good to make friends (or at least allies).

I came to marching band practice after missing the morning half due to ACT.

We had a turn to the backfield in a particular set. While turning backwards, the susaphone guy in front of me whispers "Just follow along."

I had no idea what he meant, until everyone started moving. I've never learned this set! It must have been a change done during the morning half. I followed everyone else just as he told me, and miraculously got to my dot in one piece.

I'm glad I took the time to get to know the people in my low brass section. It saved me from getting mauled over by a baritone.

Stay safe. RuiKou.

[ruikou]

Last minute homework

I'm finished with my Calculus III homework! It took me around two hours, which was way more than I had planned originally.

I'll do all the howmework that is due next week later. I might be a procrastinator... just a little.

Sleep loose. RuiKou.

[ruikou]

The Marching Band Curse

Seems like the baritone section and the mellaphone section are cursed at my school.

The baritone section has the highest percentage of people hit in the head with a lump of metal than any other section. Actually, we might be the only section that ever gets hit in the head.

The mellaphone section seems to get ankle injuries frequently. The section leader still gets surgeries in hopes of recovery.

This is kind of interesting. Hoping to uncover the mystery someday.

Sweet dreams. RuiKou