What Good is Texting?

I got my first-ever cellular device (an LG420G Tracfone) for Christmas, and I’ve really enjoyed it.

[photo couresy phonearena.com]

Interestingly enough, through my text Inbox/Sent archives I can trace the progression of…

Learning about my phone

From switching between “123” and “Abc” and learning how to type punctuation, to realizing what it means to not have service, it’s been quite a ride. I also had to humble my grammatical pride for the sake of speedy communication!

• [to Courtney – 12/29] Yes i have texting but i pay per text. Its a tracphone.
• [to Laura – 1/02] (Re: Fwd:Fwd:Fwd) How did you get this number? Please do not send me MMS texts. Thank you.
• [To Emily – 1/04] 428308430358094840207277466 (that means I hate the flu with a passion… Oops)
  [From Emily] Ooh, a numerical cipher, my favorite.
• [to Emily – 1/04] PS I am not fast at texting and this is a tracphone. I pay per text and sometimes it rips me off. Goodnight!
• [To John – 1/12] Texting is so inadequate.
• [To John – 2/03] A vibrating phone in pocket is the weirdest feeling!
• [To John – 1/12] 9:28pm: Oooh capital j… Special treatment for a txt. Or grammatical OCD.
  9:35pm: Definitely grammar O. I have never not capitalized someones name or “I” haha. But apostrophes can slide
  9:38pm: Yupp. Gotcha. Red fingered, i guess u cood say. …
  9:45pm: You are just looking for ways to dis grammar. Haha. Btw this conversation ate a bunch of phone minutes… Especially since I have service only 60% of the time. It charges me when sending fails. But I should stop complaining about the phone bc it is a blessing.
  9:46pm: Mhm. I shooda warned you this conversation wood eat up yur mins.

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Swimming

How would I ever know when my coach was going to the Aquatics Center after school without my cell phone? I still regret that day I left it at home…

• [From Lindsay – 1/06, 2:03pm] hey do you wanna go the aquatic center after school?
  [To Lindsay, 3:09pm] You know I would but i dont have a swim suit. I am sore from fitness club so i was just going to jog a little at home. What do you think?
• [To Heather – 1/12] Can we swim today? You pick time and place.
• [From Lindsay] OMG the meet is Saturday?!
• [From Lindsay – 1/13] everybody has to wear their black longsleeves to school tomorrow
• [From Lindsay – 1/15] hey whats the name of that shampoo your mom got you got for swim?
• [To Heather – 1/17] Are you planning on swimming after school tomorrow? Ill bring my suit just in case
• [To Lindsay – 1/20] Swimming tomorrow? I will remember to bring my cellphone
• [To Jenny – 1/22] Hey in not going to the meet bc Im really sick and coach told me not to. Good luck
• [To Lindsay – 1/22] How did the swim meet go? Did anyone PR or qualify? Was it fun? Im so sorry I missed it but Theres no way I could have swam
• [To Lindsay – 1/26] Can you text around and see if anyone wants to have me as their guest at Monroe this week? I just recovered from the flu today and I want to swim soon

“Where are you?”

My phone even has a preset message: “Where are you?” And of course everybody wants to know if there’s a Beta club meeting the next morning…

• [to Mom – 1/03] …I dont have any clubs or meetings today.
• [To Grace – 1/06, 6:56am] Beta meeting today… Think we can make it on the bus?
• [To John – 1/06, 7:11am]  I might be late for beta. I have to take the bus
• [From Mom – 1/06, 8:25am] I hope you weren’t too late for your meeting. I love you! Have a great day!
• [From John – 1/12, 2:50pm] Waddya think? beta tomo?
• [To John – 1/12, 8:40pm] I guess theres no beta club meeting.. (snow day!)
• [From Mom – 1/13] Ok we will leave here in 5 minutes and head over there.
• [From Mom – 1/13] Youth group tonight?

Homework

Usually I’m OK on homework instructions, and so are my friends, but there’s always those assignments that present problems.

• [To Amber – 1/15] When you get a chance can you call me about the alg hw on my home number thanks
• [To John – 1/25] Ok so how much does tutor-by-text cost?
• [From Grace – 2/03, 9:11pm] Do we have to type the essay? Or am i worrying too much about it?
  9:15pm: Haha ok, though i personally just think it’s faster typing but i won’t
  [To Grace, 9:18pm] Oh yeah me too but not printing it … And on the writing test we wont have a computer
  [From Grace, 9:20pm] We can get through this…ooh do you want to maybe swap essays in the morning to read?

And so much more…

What has your experience been with texting and cellphones? Keri @ Pop Parables recently posted about texting as well – check it out.

The Last Track Meet

I beat my time! Finally, I broke my personal record for the 800m. It was Wednesday, the Southern Carolina 3A/4A Conference meet at Porter Ridge High.  My time was 2:43 – I did not qualify for the regional meet, but I was still happy with my time. (My previous time was 2:45.35.)

Most of the distance runners PR’d and enjoyed the meet. This is why it’s fun—cheering for teammates, making my mom proud, talking in the shade with some of your best friends… I wouldn’t have that without track.

I’m going to steal this picture from Sidney to leave you with:

(Photo from a meet at Sun Valley.)

To God be the glory and honor! He created our bodies; it is by Him that we are able to run and participate in track!

The Best Birthday – Track

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Marvin Ridge Invitational!

My life would be much less if it didn’t include track—i.e. if it didn’t include the people who run track with me! If I didn’t have at least Sidney to run with, I would quit! No one wants to run by themselves.

The track team all signed the most amazing birthday card! Here it is with Lyndsie’s gift of gumballs. That’s my racing number stuck on the envelope. I love you guys!

1:30 in the afternoon at Marvin Ridge High School!

The Results for Parkwood

Out of 18 events scored, the girls ranked 15 out of 30+ schools with 11 points total. This is because Lyndsie White came in 2nd for her event, pole vaulting, earning 8 points.

The awesome pole-vaulting coach, Coach Lockhart.

The boys tied for 25, with 2 points (courtesy Matthew Brantley, shot put).

This doesn’t sound like a lot, but these points are well-earned!

My time for the 800m was 2:48.22. This was a huge drop from Wednesday. (8 seconds!)
I came in 36th out of 54 girls that ran the event.

Most everyone improved and I think we all enjoyed the competition.

I didn’t take really great pictures of the races, but I found a photographer online who did—Ken Charnock. I won’t share links for everyone’s pictures—I don’t know if they would appreciate that! Here are some of me.

Photo 1 – race face  //  Photo 2  //  Photo 3 – getting tired!

Go Rebels!

Our school (blue team – the Rebels!) competed in a track meet this past Wednesday against Sun Valley (maroon team – Spartans) and Butler (black team – Bulldogs).

We got on the bus around 2:35 and didn’t get home until about 6 hours later – crazy!! I enjoyed myself at this meet more than I ever have before. This old signboard is not completely accurate, but it’s close.

This is the start of the 800 meter relay. You can see the starting gun smoke and the coaches starting their watches. Track meets are very exciting. I waited three hours before I raced and I never once sat down to do homework or anything!

The results?

It’s almost an afterthought… Parkwood came in second overall! Basically, we beat Sun Valley.

I ran the 800m and got 4th place with a time of 2:56; the only other girls distance runner ran the 1600m. We both ran the 3200m (2 mile) and she won with a time of 13:52! (I came in third.)

I’m not really sure of all the results; all I know is that it was a lot of fun. We will know lots of details after the Marvin Ridge Invitational on Saturday!

Coach wants those “details” to look good!

Spring track meet and the weekend!

Yesterday my school hosted a “practice” track meet against Piedmont, a nearby high school. I was going to take pictures but my camera’s batteries were out of juice! So you will have to imagine the scene at Parkwood High’s track.

It was an introduction to the spring track season for the new members and a way for out-of-shape ones to get back into it. For me, it was just exciting! I know now that indoor track meets were not a good taste of what was to come. Indoor track consisted of cold, determined people trying to qualify for the state meet and stay in shape.This was so different—two and a half hours of sprinting, hurdling, racing, relaying, pole vaulting, jumping, throwing, and CHEERING from parents and team members!

There are only two girls running distance events on our track team: Sidney Scott, et moi. She ran the 1600m (1 mile), and I ran the 800m (1/2 mile). My time was 2:59. I was only competing against one girl (from Piedmont, named Bridget), and I beat her.

Sidney and I both ran the 3200 (2 mile). We weren’t really racing; it was more of a workout. This is embarrassing: I got kicked off the track with one lap to go! Oh, well. I enjoyed myself, despite a huge cramp the entire time. (I usually never get cramps!!) Daylight was running out. When we ran our cool-down, the floodlights were on.

Speaking of cheering, my mom came, along with her “Mouth of the South” (a nickname from high school cheerleading) . Ruth Johnson, last year’s track star who isn’t running this year, came and stood by the side of the track and was each person’s individual cheerleader. Thank you, Ruthie!

Now it is the weekend! Today is a workday for teachers. I am so glad the snow didn’t require a whole day off of school Wednesday! (Today would have been the make-up day.)

This morning started with feeding my neighbor’s dogs. This is Lady. She’s so silly!

Some shadow pictures:

Today I hope to go shopping for some real racing shoes (I was running in trainers) and test out some scones I making for the JAARS Middle School Girl’s Tea Party tomorrow.