OK, I know this is a little bit late or overdue or whatever you like to call it, but I feel like posting it anyways, even it is a little bit late.
This is one of those reflections on the past year type of posts. Hope you like it.
I think I shall actually start with a little bit of what occured in 2004.
For the entirety of December of 2004 (with a little bit of a break for Christmas... as in like a couple of days), I, with my Father and elder brother, COMPLETELY renovated the kitchen in our house. When I say completely, I mean completely. As in like everything. Most people have the fancy flooring, which is on top of everything else. Underneath this is some plywood. Then usually underneath this are some floor braces, which are usually 2x12s, 2x10s, or 2x8s (I forget which kind). We even had to replace some of these floor braces. I shall explain what happened. Well, one day, somebody was walking on the floor an one of the tiles suddenly cracked for no reason at all. Well, as time went on, the floor began to sink more and more, until the space was quite avoided. Then my Dad went under the house to check it out (I had to go with him, of course). We discovered that there was a leak in one of the pipes. It was spraying on these floor braces I was talking about, and even dripped down the boards some. Well, believe it or not, water makes wood rot, and we found this out the hard way. Well, we completely detroyed our kitchen, leaving basically nothing behind. We replaced some of the studs (no, not the human kind) in the wall and some of the floor braces and started from there. Floors, cabinets, walls, everything. We did take advantage of the oppurtunity to make a different kitchen though, as the person who built the original was quite a dummy. We have a much nicer and more functional kitchen now. And had to do all this by ourselves, of course. With the cabinets, there was just wood, saws, a planer, a jointer, and other tools needed. But we are still putting the finishing touches on it. Like doors for the cabinets, drawer fronts, baseboards, crown molding, and various things like that. We needed a functional kitchen back as quickly as possible. Reheated dinners (i.e. lasanga...) that have been frozen for quite some time are great for a little bit, but can get quite unpleasent after time. The morale of this story is to check for water leaks daily.
Moving on to New Year's Eve of 2004. I actually spent some of that evening in the emergancy room in quite a bit of pain. I found out the hard way that fire and very hot plastic that has very recently come out of the fire really hurts a LOT. Smokey the Bear is right people; don't play with fire. I was actually seeing how different objects would burn or melt. It all started by seeing whether fiberglass insulation melts or burns. Believe me people, it melts. Well, as you know, one thing leads to another, and sooner or later, you are holding plastic over an open fire with your bare hands. Stupid me. And believe it or not, such a thing hurts. Kids, do not try this at home. I still have a rather evident scar on my left thumb from the incident. I think all the others have gone away, but this one will probably stay with me for life. Sucker me.
Well, life went on in its normal routine until the beginning of February. On February the Third, I went to the oral surgeon. They then made me sit down and gave me some drugs that made me fall asleep. Well, you won't believe what happened next! When I woke up from my drugged slumber, all four of my wisdom teeth were gone! And I felt it for the next couple of days. But the worst thing was my extreme hunger. I was so hungry, yet could not eat. And when I did start eating, it was like Jello. Jello tastes good, but it doesn't really fill you up. Not having real food for a couple of days really stinks. Basically, to make a short story long... wait scratch that, reverse it... I got my wisdom teeth out then. As in surgerically removed.
I suppose the next big thing was TeenPact (State Class and my first event ever). This was truelly an awesome and wonderful experience. Not only did I have tons and loads of fun and learned a lot including about Robert's Rules (which I found fun, interesting, and fascinating), but I also met some totally awesome and wonderful people. This was entirely a great experience. I am so totally and definitely going back this year and hopefully to National Convention. If you have never been to TeenPact or have never even heard of it, then you are at a loss. If you are scared to go, don't be. It is so fun, and a totally awesome experience. You will like it. I promise. If you want to find out more information about TeenPact, you can go to http://www.teenpact.com/.
Then in May, my elder (and eldest) brother graduated from High School. I kept reminding myself then, "Two more years, Michael, only two more years."
Then on the Seventh day of the month of June, I turned sixteen years of age. No, we didn't really have a party at all. I did start to learn how to drive that day though. Funny how my dad starts teaching me to drive the day I could get my real license, isn't it?
I think it was then I got involved with my Generation Joshua (GenJ) club. This has been fun and I have enjoyed it very much. Thanks Noah! For more information about GenJ, you can go to http://www.generationjoshua.org/.
Then also in June, I went to AWANA Scholarship Camp. This is always a great and fun time and really is refreshing. I had a great time, although it was not as wonderful as it was in 2004.
Then the Summer passed as I wanted to spend.
Then, by the turn of unfortunate events, school started again.
But then a rather momentous event occured in my life. On August the 24th, I went to work at a job for the first time ever. I started my job at Taco Bell on that day. I started earning money and having a busy life.
Then on October the 19th, I finally got my real Drivers' Liscense (as in the one with no restrictions). I coud finally drive myself to work and back and to all my other activities. But I have also had to drive my younger siblings places.
Well, I suppose nothing really happened between then and now, expect for Christmas, but you can read more about that in my previous posts. Life had been ever continuing and ever constant in its monotonous cycle of work, school, and more work. Sucker me.
Well, I have also learned many new things this year, as well as made some new friends. I have grown (in a non-physical manner) this year also. It has been a great all in all.
I have also discovered that I have an interest for music. I have (sadly) in the past not really been interested in music, much to my disadvantage. I have found music that I love. I have discovered Coldplay. I am still a novice at music, so don't think I am an expert, but I am learning about it more and more. And no, I don't mean making music or anything like that. Sorry.
I also opened this Xanga account this year.
As for my Eagle Scout project, I have really made no progress at all this year towards it. Bad Michael.
I have also this year have loads and tons of fun on the Plaza. I have learned many new things, made some new friends, and have grown in it and because of it. It has been fun.
Well, I wanted to leave you all with what my opinion is of the best movie of the year. In my humble opinion (which isn't rather humble after all) the best movie of the year is Batman Begins. Sorry Noah, but 'tis true. It is a totally awesome and sweet movie. It wins. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was a wonderful movie (and rather anticipated), but Batman Begins was better.
And I want to leave you all now at the end of this post with the lyrics to my favorite and bestest song of the year. This is none other than "Fix You" by Coldplay. Totally awesome and sweet song. And it was how I felt when the new year rolled around. If you have never heard this song before, you are at a loss, and I ver strongly suggest that you listen to it. Without further ado, here are the lyrics.
When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse
When the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
High up above or down below
When you too in love to let it go
If you never try you'll never know
Just what your worth
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears streaming down your face and I
Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face and I
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you | 
