My first random thought is about how the majority of the senior English classes are reading Macbeth. I love the play and all, but the packets, quizzes, and reading at home is a little much. It’s a pretty good tragedy if you actually read it. I honestly don’t see the point of reading a Shakespeare play each year of high school. We had Romeo and Juliet freshman year, I don’t remember what we read sophomore year, Julius Caesar junior year, and now “Macbeth” senior year.

My second random thought is about Twitter. I think it’s pretty silly how you can go from 0 followers to 200 in one day. Then be back at 0 the next day. To me, Twitter is the most simple yet ignorant website. Don’t get me wrong, I do have a Twitter myself, but it definitely interferes with my social life. I spend more time checking my Twitter on my phone when I’m out with friends than actually associating with my friends.

My third random thought is about the new music out. Here’s my list of ten songs that I love to listen to:
1. “Blow It All” – Tha Joker
2. “Leave The Club” – Chris Brown
3. “The Way You Move” – Ne-Yo
4. “4 AM” – Melanie Fiona
5. “Nightmares Of The Bottom” – Lil Wayne
6. “Just A Kiss” – Lady Antebellum
7. “H.A.M.” – Kanye West
8. “All Back” – Chris Brown
9. “God Gave Me You” – Blake Shelton
10. “Don’t You Wanna Stay” – Kelly Clarkson

My fourth random thought is about football. My favorite team is the New Orleans Saints who now have a 9-3 record as of tonight with their win against the Detroit Lions. Football has to be my favorite sport, besides softball of course! But the Saints should definitely be seen at the Superbowl this year.

My fifth random thought is about Skype. Since students can’t use it at school anymore, no one really uses it at all. Or am I the only one who notices that? I haven’t even heard of anyone mentioning it anymore. I guess it’s fading out along with Facebook. Facebook has been put second now that Twitter is becoming more popular.

My sixth and final thought is about this weather and Christmas break. I can’t believe that senior year is almost half way over! It’s going by way too fast. We only have a few weeks until Christmas break and then the year is already half way over. I guess the previous seniors were right when they told me it would fly by. But along with Christmas break comes this frigid weather. I’m a person who loves the warm weather because of softball. But also because I’d prefer not to freeze.

I’m sure that I have just filled your head with a lot of thoughts and that you are now possibly even updating your iTunes library with new songs. I feel that Shakespeare is pointless, Twitter is becoming a new Facebook, music=love, the Saints are AWESOME, Skype is overrated, and Christmas break can’t get here any faster!

Despite the success of our Cross-Country team, it’s likely half the students at OHS don’t even know the Cross-Country season is still underway. The big meet that everyone is looking forward to is this Saturday (like, TOMORROW) in Lexington. This is what all these teams have been practicing so hard for. All the blood, sweat, and tears have been solely put towards this weekend’s competition. Come out to see how well our fellow Red Devil boys and girls do against their Apollo and Daviess County opponents as well as other great teams in the state. They have improved so much this year and their record shows it. This weekends state meet will be so intense that it will have you at the finish line with anxiety. Hopefully I see nothing but red and black heading towards the finish line first.

The three-hour drive will be the most suspenseful drive of the season. The fifteen to twenty minutes from start to finish will be even worse. Our very talented cross-country teams have been working extremely hard to get to this point and we expect so much more out of them. The coaches and other teams have set high standards for not only themselves and their teammates… but also for our team. No one expected the Owensboro High School Red Devils to be this successful in their 2011 season.

During the cross-country season there has been nothing but improvement. Our teams are nervous for this intimidating competition, but don’t plan to do anything less than their absolute best this weekend. Senior Margaret Montgomery said, “I am more excited than nervous.” Both of our teams are well prepared for this meet. They have been pushing themselves above and beyond because they know it’s not going to be easy. They have known all season that there are other teams practicing just as hard as they are and that the competition is going to be tough. James Easler from the Apollo cross-country team says, “The OHS guys have been my biggest competitors this whole season. I expect Zac Garrard to be close to me at the finish line.”

Our cross-country teams are well prepared for this meet and the other competing teams can see it too. We are pumped for the meet and aren’t going out without a fight. Expecting them to do extremely well, I will be there at the finish line cheering them on and hopefully I see more Red Devil fans there to join me!

I  K n o w  I t ‘ s  E a r l y  B u t . . .

Let’s talk college …I’m going to fill you in on a dorm checklist that would be suitable for anyone. Going to college could be hard, but then again it could be fun.  Since you all are in high school, college should be on your brain. Making good grades is essential and taking the ACT, SAT and whatnot, but what your dorm looks like is waaaay more important! Here’s what should be kept in a dorm room:

B e d d I n g

• Mattress Topper
• Bed Bug Mattress Protector
• Mattress pad
• The design you want!
• At least three sets of sheets (dorms typically have twin extra-long mattresses)
• Pillow covers

S t o r a g e

• Colorful storage boxes; Possibly a storage ottoman
• Double-hang closet rod
• Under bed Storage Containers; For clothes, shoes, and extra toiletries

B a t h   &   P e r s o n a l   C a r e

• Shower Tote
• Towels, bath sheets, hand towels, and wash cloths: At least three of each
• Toiletries: Shampoo, conditioner, razor, shaving cream, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, body wash, cotton swabs, and bandages.
• Medications: Need to learn how to make refills
• Sewing Kit

D é c o r   a n d   R o o m   N e c e s s I t I e s

• Posters
• Adhesive Hooks
• Photos
• White Board/Bulletin Board
• Wall Decals
• Desk lamp
• Mirror
• Hamper
• Waste basket
• Alarm Clock
• Power strips/extension cords
• Durable plates, glasses, bowls, and silverware

B I g g e r   T I c k e t   I t e m s

• Television
• DVD player and DVDs
• Area Rug
• Vacuum Cleaner
• Printer
• Fan
• Heater
• Mini refrigerator
• Microwave

E l e c t r o n I c s

• Laptop
• Laptop Lock
• Flash Drive
• Cell Phone and Charger
• Digital Camera
• iPod and Headphones
• Compact iPod Speaker System
• Rechargeable Batteries With Charger

S c h o o l  S u p p l I e s

• Pens, Notebooks, Folders, Highlighters, Markers, Scissors, and a Stapler
• Printer Paper
• Textbooks

This is what you call a dress code?

Very impressive OHS…

You go from this to this

As I recall, three years ago when I was a mere freshman at Owensboro High School we had the strictest dress code in town ( next to Owensboro Catholic.)  But as you can see, things have drastically changed. From then to now is a huge difference. What has gotten into OHS?

I’m not saying that a more lenient dress code is a problem. I won’t argue with that. But when healthier girls are wearing leggings with nothing over them, it may have gone too far. It’s gotten to the point that some girls are hardly wearing any clothing to school and no one says anything to them … What happened to the referrals? A couple of years ago, anyone “flaunting what they’ve got” or wearing shorts that didn’t go to the knee would be sent downstairs.

I remember back in the OMS days when we had to have an OMS shirt, khaki pants, a belt, and our shirts had to be tucked in. Oh, how things have changed! Now, Owensboro Middle School is even changing its dress code. What’s going on here?!

This dress code problem is not strictly for girls.  The guys are actually wearing too much clothing. What is up with them wearing  2XL sweatshirts when they are definitely a small? Let’s not even talk about the real purpose of belts.

But don’t let me be “Miss Negative Nancy” and ruin the outfit you picked out for school tomorrow. Just make sure when you are deciding what to wear, choose wisely PLEASE! The things that YOU think are covering “enough;” might look a little different to your fellow peers. You can dress for Florida some other time. Summer’s over and school is back in session if you haven’t noticed!

Normally, I wouldn’t complain. Girls need to put more on and guys need to … well, the guys just need to take a look in the mirror before they leave the house! If I’m not mistaken, the same dress code has been in the handbook during all of my years here at OHS, so why are people not being written up for it? I guess the principals are more worried about who’s Skyping or who’s watching videos on YouTube.