Max out

Austin, January 31st

Today we tested our limits in weightlifting. I got stronger! My squat limit is now about about 20 pounds higher than last time.

The Other Guys

Austin, January 30th

What a weird day. It seems like everybody is spending it with his or her sister. Anyway, we couldn't find anyone for a movienight, but Steffen and i wanted to watch the other guys. So it was just the two of us.

It was still fun. We played on my guitar, throw the cats through the rooms -I think they hate my by now- and of course watched the movie.

Cinema - a little bit different

Austin, January 29th

Yea, I know, we are here to spend time with Americans, learn about their culture and all that stuff. And I really try. If I meet with friends, I always invite a few Americans. Mostly girls, but that's just because I know them better than most boys. But in the last time I usually meet the other Germans. When we went to the cinema tonight, we didn't have any Americans with us. Steffen invited a girl from an other school, Melina, she's from Germany, too. But that was not the only difference, we also invited Carmen, a Spanish girl.

On our way to the cinema, Steffen and Carolin talken in German, so Carmen wanted me to promise that I will not speak one word German. I tried not to speak german, but from time to time I did... Or I mixed my sentences with English and German words, that happens all the time, I sometimes really have problems just to speak proper German.

We all talked about when we met each other the first time. Pretty easy, Steffen at the first school day after school in football practice. Caro, if she wants to believe it or nt, at the second day in Multimedia, I was about 5 minutes there and then I changed schedule and had multimedia one period earlier. Jessica at the second day, too. I switched out of Multimedia and into Theater, where i met her. Carmen I met at the basketball game about two weeks ago and Melina today.

The movie, we watched The Rite, was very boring. Carmen was very scared and hided most of the time behind Caro. So I spend my time watching Caro smiling when somthing 'scary' happens -she's a weirdooo- and Carmen hiding. It was very funny. I also tried to make conversation with the old guy next to me. It didn't work, I think he was afraid of me.

When Steffen, Caro, Carmen and I looked for a restaurant that was still open, Carmen told us, that we germans aren't so cold, how she always thought. Just because our language sounds cold, it doesn't mean that we are cold, too!! And by the way, German is NOT cold! And it doesn't sound like just half sentences either! I don't know why everyone says that. I grew up with german, I heard it my whole life, I can't find anything cold about it.

After the Cinema, Steffen, I and Loran went to Whataburger, because we couldn't find an open restaurant at the cinema, but were very hungry.

Run Forest, RUN!

Austin, January 28th

Little change in practice schedule. I didn't had track after school, it was before school. The choaches wanted us to be on the field at 7 a.m. So a lot of us were outside, dressed in sweater and sweatpants. Some even with gloves and caps and everything to stay warm. But when you have to wait 30 minutes for the coaches you still get cold. Wasn't nice of them to let us wait.

But when you run a few laps you get warm again. And the freezing shower cools you down again. No wonder that most guys didn't shower (YOU PIGS!). One even left the shower after I told him that the water is bone chilling.

But it's still better than having track practice after school on a friday.

Before English class I had to go to the Clinic. they made an ear and eye test. I wonder why they need it, I went to a doctor in the beginning of the year for my physical, there is everything they need included.
Well, my eyes are terrible bad, i know that they don't really need to test that. But for that I wear glasses, so I don't have any problems to see.

Early Release day

Austin, January 26th

Mercyful like the coaches are, they allowed us to sleep in today. And to leave school direct after it ended. (I just had to wait for the bus, which was about 10 minutes to late. I wonder why always my bus is late?)
No weight lifting session, no track practice. And the best NO RANGERTIME! The early release day totally changed the schedule, exept for third period, every class was just 45 minutes. Third period was the full time, because before, during and after the third period are the lunch times.

The choaches decided to use this day just for tug-of-war competitions. A martial name for a simple game where you just have to pull on a rope until a specific point- when two parties play the usually middle- leaves a specific area. We started with four teams playing at the same time. So the rope had four ends and a square in the middle. My team, the Swoildiers, won the first two games. But we lost the following two. We lost really bad, the Flying Beavers just pulled us over the ground. 

Another movienight

Austin, January 25th

Okay, slowly it's getting weird how often we meet eatch other just to watch movies.

The movie we watched, Dinner for Schmuckes, was surprisingly good. 

Before the movie we played foosball. Caro and me against Steffen and Daniel. We lost by one point. But to my defense, I'm the only one of us four who has no foosball-table at home.

Hey, I had my second track practice. I run about four or five laps and about four times 150 yards.

I definitifely need some better shoes for running, my legs hurt really bad. but I can't tell or Gary will call me whiner again. 

Cinema with Steffen

Austin, January 24th

I had my first track practice, and so far, I like it. But we just getting started, the practice will be a lot harder soon.

We watched the Green Hornet tonight. It was a pretty good movie. Since we were almost 10 mintues late we missed about half of the boring commercials before the movie. And the only other two people in the room left after about half of the movie, so we had a whole cinema just for us.

Four days of morning workout

Austin, January 21st

I can't believe I actually made it. I came every day before school to the moring workouts. And with a little help of a can of Mtn Dew I wasn't even that tired. That's absolutely the best energy drink I ever had.

Well thats not very difficult, considered that I had before just Red Bull and a Rad Bull fake, and both tasted gross.

But energy drinks will not replace enough sleep, I must not forget this. Actually, the coaches told us it's not good to drink sodas before sports.

In multimedia I had absolutely nothing to do. The girl next to me, Melanie, and I, we are probably the fastest guys in Multimedia, so we played computer games (mostly Spider Solitaire and Hearts) during class.

And our teacher couldn't even say something against that, because she hadn't made new exercises for us and the rest of the class needed her help.

Since Brandon is a senior, he can't fail theater class, or we will not be able to graduate, so he focused this time a bit more on our starge combat preview. Just a little. We still have not enough, Ms Dye said we need an better end. But the action we have, was really good.

I think everyone like the first slap most. It was the only time I really hit him. Not very hard of course. I slow down short before I hit him so everyone sees, it's just a planned, soft, hearable slap in the face. More a gesture than a try to hurt him. But it must look hilarious, everyone laughed.

The preview was the only time we didn't hurt each other. During rehearsal he once stamped on my foot. I didn't wore shoes, because the rehearsal before, he fell on my boots. And cowboy boots are really not to be used as pillow!

Beef jerky

Austin, January 20th

After football someone sold beef jerky in the study hall. Damn that stuff is good! I will have to get me some more in the grocery store for breakfast after the morning workouts and snacks after football class!

A new rule in theater

Austin, January 19th

Another wednesday without running. Since we have just four school days we will have four days weight lifting. Okay, whatever, I'm used to it and it sometimes really is fun.

What is not so fun, is to get up early in the morning. Austin picked me up again so I can get some extra reps in the morning. Since I was already in the locker room, I could put my cowboy boots in my locker and wear them after football class. We have rangertime, so I would have to run from A-building to the locker room, if I have bad luck a bit through mud. And I really don't want to run through mud with my boots. They still look to new for doing that.

But when Haley saw me later in my normal shoes she was disappointed, because she wore just for me her cowboy boots, assuming that I would wear mine too.

When we saw us then in Theater class I of course wore my boots. We realized that the style of our boots have much in common, exept for hers are brown and mine are black.

By the way, my theater teacher forbade now officially that girls sit on my during class.
The last time she forbade me sitting on Haley, now it's for girls in general forbitten to sit on me. I sometimes think she has something against me. She already thread me to send me to the principal or someone, if I sit on Haleys legs again. No drawing on Tishyas neck, no sitting on Haleys legs, no Tiffany sitting on my legs, slowly she ruins almost everything that makes fun in this class. But one thing she can't take, talking crap in German! And of course that I really enjoy this class, we find other things to have fun while we ain't acting.
That Brandons and mine stage combat preview sucked didn't made anything better, we should have more practiced and less changed our script. In the end the only thing I knew what I should do, was slapping Brandons face. But at least Ms Dye liked my boots.

Three workouts, two subs and one actual class

Austin, January 18th

Austin picked me up early in the morning. We picked some other guys up and went to the weight lifting room.

In Algebra we had a substitute, so we did pretty much nothing. And then I run back to the weight room for football class. My group usually starts with a leg workout and after a very short break after four stations we start our next four stations with pull ups. But now they changed the plans and we start with pull ups. It's kind of relaxing to start with the really exhausting racks and the machines and dumbbells at the end. It's still the same amount of work, but it seemed a bit easier. Or it was because I had a 4 day workout break. Yeah I think that's more likely. Anyway, I had more fun then the last days.

In history I had a sub again. What means, not much to do, but talking, uhm, socializing, like the teacher call it. Pretty stupid word actually.

Then I had the only class with a regular teacher (football I don't really count as a class). But in English we usually don't do much. We have a mini grammar lesson. Read something, write something and then is the class almost over.

After school I went to the first track meeting. Next week the practice will start, and it looks like a lot of practice.

Loran and I went to the gym after dinner. Since I lifted already weights twice today I just did cardio. I run 3 miles on a weird machine and went then to the sauna.

Tomorrow Austin will pick me up again, and we will go to the morning workout again. It's actually not that bad, I'm usually awake very early, I just hate getting up of the bed.

Martin Luther King Day

Austin, January 17th

No school today, so I slept long and when I woke up the house was empty. No message from anyone, so I assumed Loran and Gary are at work. At least I found a can of beans next to the stove, so probably they didn't forget me totally. Guess what my lunch was. Right, beans! They were actually pretty good, and I didn't blew up the kitchen.

In the evening I went with Steffen and Daniel to the movies. We saw The Dilemma, it's with Steffens favourite actor, but I have no clue what his name was.

Daniel tried to talk with the girls sitting in front of us, but they just laughed, the guys behind us laughed and we laughed of course, too. The girl who sold the tickets was way nicer to us, ad the one who controlled the tickets, too. Well, he can't be always lucky.

After the movie, we went to Subways for dinner. On the way to Subways I got a text message from Rafael, that he get sick and so he wouldn't be able to pick me up tomorrow, for a moring workout. He offered me to call some guys and check if one of them can give me a ride and a few minutes later Austin texted me. I have no idea who that is. But he will pick me up tommorow moring, so he is probably a nice guy.

Good night everyone, I have a lot of work tomorrow, (workout before school and in football class) so I better go to bed.

Raclette

Austin, January 16th

We had breakfast at Golden Corral! They have great ice cream, the rest was okay. The cakes were way to sweet.

At half past four I went to Caro. I stopped at HEB to get Coke and Chips, because Steffen texted me, that they were already food shopping, but they didn't bought coke.

I bought 12 cans of coke and, hooray, I got 12 cans "HEB Original Coke" for free! 24 cans should be enough for about 8 people. Since some of the invited people didn't come we had more than enough coke. But it was still a nce evening with Caro, Jessi, Steffen and Haley.

The Racltee was great, although I missed the pineapples. And maybe some ham. And a few other things. The next time I will go shopping with them!

After we ate we watched 'Foreign Exchanges' and 'Anatomie', played a little dart and jumped on the trampolin. Either I hit the dog when I jumped, or he tried to bite me, either way, I felt something on my foot and it was pretty sure that stupid dog.

Mall and Movie

Austin, January 15th

Steffen woke me up with a text message this morning. He had to go to some museums with his Local Coordinator and her other exchange students. Apparently he don't like museums very much, and he told me shared sorrow is half sorrow, and so he dicided to share his sorrow with me. At 9 in the moring? That's not sorrow, that's pain! 

After a 7 hour museum tour with his, and strangely my LC, too, (did I miss any message about a exchange student meeting?) he met with Caro and me at the mall. While we waited for him, Caro met Haley, a friend of her and invited her to join us. So we four ate something and went shopping at Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitch. I got some new shirts, they are realy cool, I going to wear one tomorrow at the Raclette night at Caro's house.

At 9:30 p.m. we went to the movies and watched Little Fockers.  

Basketball game

Austin, January 14th

I had a great day in school. B-days are just relaxed.

In football we run, it was cold outside, so most of us wore sweater and long pants. All in black, Collin said I look like a Ninja!

In theater we wrote a little test about Shakespear. I somehow always understood that he gave his wife his second best play, in his will. That he actually gave her his second best BED I heard just today, after the test.

At least I was right with the second best thing.

Today Steffen, Caro, Haley and I went the Vista Ridge vs Cedar Park basketball game. It was a amazing game. Short before end we led with just one point. Then Cedar Park scored just about 3 seconds before the end. 

Vista fans and Cedar Park Students shouted to each other bad things all the time, but in these seconds Vista Ridge was very quiet. Until we scored, exactly at the same time as the timer hit the 0!

Now it was our turn to cheer while Cedar Park was shocked.  

After the game I invited the others to Chili's for dinner. We had much fun at Chili's and the food was pretty good. On our way home we saw about 9 deers eating, when they saw us they runned across the street and hided. I don't think I saw ever so much deers on the streets.

Grammar

Austin, January 13th

Four times weight room in a row, it starts to get very hard. I guess we all sweat so much that the whole room smells bad, I saw the water girls walking around with their amrs infront of their nose. Not very nice, but I don't have much time to think about that when I work out, and I can't smell myself, so I don't care.

In English we have those mini lessons in grammar. I hate grammar, no matter which language. I talk and the people understand me, or they don't, that doen't matter to me.

Luckily are the lessons really mini, they take just about 10 minutes listening to the teacher and the write a few sentences.

Three little children

Austin, January 12th

Another day in school. It was a cold day, so the coaches decided not to go out to run. And I was so looking forward to it! So we went in the weightroom again.

After school we went out for dinner. Loran and I love mexican food, so we went to Serranos. The food was pretty good, exept for the Queso, that tasted a boring today.

After dinner we went to a close electronic store. We were like little children in it. I beat Loran twice in boxing at something like a WII. I later gave him the tip, not to punch hard, that makes him slower and tired. And the computer has now idea how hard you punch, it recognizes just how fast. Loran punched 'me' hard but slow and I punched 'him' soft, but much much faster and since I hardly put endegie in my punches, without getting tired. Thats the secret bihing the Wii and all WII-like computer. Be fast but don't work too hard, the machine won't care about your strengh.
At one of the laptops I tried to go to Youtube, and really, I could just surf in the internet and play songs in Youtube. So I put the volume very high and let the song Pussy from Rammstein play. I just wanted to see, if any assistants react on the music. After a few minutes someone came, wanted to stop the music and read the lyrics of this, not very appropriate song. He started laughing and let it play to show it an other shop assistant.

11111

Austin, January 11th

I think the most impressive thing today was the date 1-11-11. Of course not as impressive as in 10 months when we will have 11-11-11.

I had a nice day in school and spend my day with playing guitar. My fingers hurt less than when I played my mamas guitar in germany, although I have here just steel strings and in Germany I had both nylon and steel.

The workouts made my finger probably less sensetive.

Bi-District Champ...still, Movienight... again

Austin, December 10th

Our football coaches gave us today certificates for being Bi-District Champions. 



It's now framed on the wall in my bedroom.

Tonight I had some friends over and we watched Case 39. Kind of creepy, but sometimes very funny too.

And I finally had chance to talk to my guidance counsellor. I'm finally 'outta here' and switched from Spanisch to Photo Journalism. Could be interesting, but it sounded like a lot of work, I have to do a photo essay soon.

Football Banquett

Austin, December 9th

Today was a banquett for the last years football team. So I got nice dressed up and sat hour after hour in the cafeteria, listening to the coaches talking or talking to friends. Got 'recognized' as a JV football player.

We ate something and talked a bit more. And got finally home, after we watched a highlight movie and babyfotos from the Varsity team. I remembered so many great situations on the field while watching the movie, I want to play again so bad!

Saturday

Austin, December 8th

Like most of the saturdays I just relaxed. My back really hurts from the football workouts.

Since I'm still Gold's Gym member so I went with Loran to the gym in the evening. We wanted to go to my favourite gym at 1431. I think thats the name of the street. But the street was under construction and we didn't want to drive for a thousand miles the one direction undtil we could change street and drive than back to the gym, so we went to one we haven't been for a long time.

It was pretty funny. We made more cardio than usual. Wel, we never do cardio, so it's not very hard to top that. And then we went swimming. We fought a bit in the water, I think Loran fought better, with his much more body weight. But I got him a few times.

Movienight

Austin, December 7th

Still no hall pass to get the class changed, I going to write my Counsellor an E-mail.

School day was pretty good. Algebra satys easy, football stays hard, but I have my fun there.

Lunch I had like always this semster with the 3 Germans and an American girl. Steffen and I think about having lunch with some Starsteppers in the next time, get known some new people.

In the evening I went to Caros house. I've never been there but it seems like a nice house so far I saw it. We played, -how is it called? foosball? That table soccer stuff. Caro and Steffen beat me and Matt. But it was very close.

Then we watched a movie. Should be a horro movie and from time to time it was scary, somtimes disgusting. I really hate seeing that someone gets a kneeoperations. I once played a computer game where I operate on a knee, and since then it is pretty much the scariest thing I can imagine.

Anyways, the main character was a crazy GERMAN surgeon who wanted to create a human centipede. He kidnapped two American girls and a Japanese boy and sew them together, mouth to butt. That guy is really sick, but the whole movie was also kind of funny.

And the best part was, we watched in English because of Matt, but since it played in Germany there were some German dialogues! In real German, not Americans trying to speak German. The subtitle translation wasn't always right, so we translated for our America friend. All in all it was a pretty funny night. I almost killed someone, again. But this time not by purpose, at least not all the time.

And Caro showed us her new pet, a flying squirrel. And the first thing it did, was peeing on Steffens hand. Well, I told him the squirrel doesn't like him, but he didn't want to listen.

Fight on stage

Austin, December 6th

We had the same workout like monday, but I did much better this time, I'm getting into it again.

Tomorrow will be hard, I want to go to a morning workout, what means I go to the weight room at 730 until short before school starts. And then in second period again. I'm curious how the moring workout will be.

In theater class we practiced to fight on the stage. I like this kind of fight, the victim has to do all the work, not the guy who beats. It's pretty fun.

Then we watched video clips with Jackie Chan to see how he fights in his movies. He is awesome!

But again, I didn't saw all of it, we were busy drawing.

My name on Haley, unfortunately I forgot that she wears clothes, so I had to write the last two letters a bit smaller xD

An Haleys name on my hand

Austin, December 5th

Wednessday, Ranger time day. I hate it, the rool ist probably the coldest in the whole school and I forget always to bring a jacket.

Something else special on wednessdays is that we are nor in the weight room, but outside in Football class. It was warm enough to not wear the sweater, maybe next week.

We startet with some stretching exercises and then sprinted 20 or 40 yards. At the need we run a manmaker. Thats one lap in the stadium.

I was 3 seconds faster than the last two times, unfortunately they lowered the time they gave the Lightnings by 5 seconds to 65, so now I'm not 3 seconds to slow, but 5! I wonder how I can get into Thunder, they have much more time. I think most of them are in the defense, and Lightning are offense, so no chance to get into this team.

But thats okay, I was by far not the last and next time I will be faster!

In English we have new a new seat chart. This time I sit far away from most of those I used to sit the last semester. But thats okay, James and Adam, two from my football team sit close to me, Ryan and Willie, two other friends sit close to and I sit next to Ashley, with her I'm friends since a few weeks too. All in all it's not bad.

So tired

Austin, January 4th

Second day back and I already need a day of. I slept again very bad, I guess I will open the window tonight. Better freezing in the morning than sweating and not sleep at all. And I stop drinking Fanta or Coke in the evening. Maybe.

Gary made a huge breakfast. As result Loran and I left the house 10 inutes later than he wanted.

We have a new Spanish teacher and a few new students in class. The room looks much more tidied up than I ever saw it before. But i still hope I get soon an appointment with my counsellor. I talked yesterday with Caro, and i think I will take Foto Journalism instead of Spanish. Three easy reasons, it sounds like more fun, I get a chance to get known Caro better, because she' is the only german I almost never see.

Well now I see her every day a lunch, but as my friends and hostdads know: I don't talk when I'm eating!

And the last reason, I think Foto journalism is in the C-building, very close to the gym. So I don't have to run so far to football class, that means I will have at least two more minutes to change clothes, probably more.

And that would mean I will go inside the main building on b-days just when it's on a wednesday, and that just for 30 minutes senseless Ranger time. Multimedia and that Foto stuff is in the C-building, gym, cafeteria and Theater class in an other.

Workout in football was hard again, and I'm really sored now, but it was better than yesterday.

One of the coaches shouted at us, becaue just 12 people came to lift weights before school, the last years came between 60 adn 90. 'Not from time to time, but EVERYDAY!'

After workout we got Sweater, finally something warm to wear when we go outside to run.

Best class today was, like always Theater. I love it. We didn't do much today, Ms D. Lost her voice, it's just a whisper anymore. So we just watched some videos about Shakespear and something else. i don't know what, I was busy with drawing hearts and stars and other stuff on some girls. My masterpiece is on Haleys shoulder and back. The name of her boyfriend and a heart. And on Jessis neck, a star, the double T of Theater Tech, a University here, and a heart. And a heart and my Name on Tiffanys neck. And all draw something on me, Jessy a flower, Tishya a smilie and Tiffany a flower a peace sign a heart and a smilie. And Haley wrote on my hand 'Haley loves ♥ you'. They all are so cute!

Yes, Theater is really fun, I can'imagine a better class than having fun with the girls, and of course boys, too, but today I just sat with girls. And most of the real lesson is playing theater, one of my hobbys for about two years. I think I should take me camera to class, there are o many great situations to take fotos.

Back at home I wanted to read a bit further in the book, but I fell asleep. I'm really tired, two days hardly slept   and workouts with a Coach called Payne. Sometimes it really is just PAIN, but I think it's worth it, and to tell the truth, I like this kind of pain, it means I worked hard.

But now I go to bed, I need some rest. I hope tomorrow I finally get the schedule changed, and that the Sweater fits right, I haven't had opportunity to try it.

Back to school

Austin, January 3rd

And the break is over. Good, it started to get boring.

I slept very bad, I need to open the window of my bed room in the night, I sleep way better with open window. Unfortunately it's getting cold during the night.

Loran wanted to leave earlier today, so I was in school at about 815. To late to go to the weight room, and to early to go to class. Luckily I found PJ in the hallway and we talked about our breaks.

This poor guy broke his leg some weeks ago, pretty bad, he is one of our kicker, how is he supposed to kick the football without using his foot? Well, the next game is in a few months, should be enough time for his leg to became okay again.

Our math class room got a smart board, kind of like a huge touch screen used as board. But we didn't use it yet, we used a smaller tablet pc-like thing. You write on it and it appears on the wall.

In football we had a terrible hard workout, but at least is everyone else just as sored as I am, so I don't complain. At least not much.

During lunch I went to the guidance office to see my goidance counsellor to change my schedule a bit. I didn't got an appointment today, hopefully I can see her tomorrow.

I almost forgot the biggest event today: I read the half of a book. I haven't serious read for 5 months, a little bit in school and once in the bible. I lend twice books in the library, but the first one i stopped after two chapter and the second one I didn't even open.

But this time I will read it, all 480 pages.

I actually just have it, because I have to write something about one of the characters in a novel, so the class went to the library and I took the firts book which title sounded familiar. I have not 'The Loch'. I don't know why, but somehow I thought it might have something to do with the novel 'Holes' or in German 'Löcher'. But of course it's not German for hole, it's Scottish for lake. It's about Loch Ness. They often talk with Scotish accent: "Ye're needed. [...] He's demandin' tae see a Templar." "I need tae speak wi' a Templar" "Ye'll speak tae no one 'til ye've dealt wi' me. In whit battle [blabla]..."  "Ye're jist tryin' tae scare me. I'm no' feart o' a myth." A lot of tae's and whit's and ye's and half words.

New Years Day

Austin, January 1st 2011

I think I'm doing every year the same thing on New Year. I sleep and sleep and, well, sleep  a bit more.

When I finally waked up, we had lunch at a buffet. I had the first time in my life frog legs. Tastes really a bit like chicken, just better.

In the evening I chatted with a friend in Germany.