Johanna Speaks

So recently, I just switched out my violin for a rustic looking one because I love the way those look, and the one that I got almost has a warmer tone to it. It's not as high-pitched as my other one. So I think it's way better than the one I had. And these are the reasons why this one is way better. 

1. This has a warmer tone to it and is not as high-pitched as the other one. And I like it that way.

2. It looks AMAZING!!

3. And the bow looks and feels better. 

4. It has a hygrometer on the inside of the case, so it tells you if it's too hot or something, and my other one didn't have that. 

5. It's just amazing!!

When I first tried it, it felt more slippery. Like the bow started to slip more easily. But after I played it more, I got used to it. I am still renting this one. All I did was switch violins. The one that I just got was $500, but the one that I used to have was $287. I haven't bought them but renting. I also tried learning a super hard song called "Swallowtail Jig." I learned a little part of it. But it is seriously really hard to play. I recorded myself playing a tiny part of it. I will put it here and the song also. 

Here's the song:

And here's a little bit of me trying to play. She's going like super fast in the video above! I am going slow but going that speed really hard for me already. So don't judge! :)

My mom and I visited a lady who has dementia. I did a blog post a while ago about her. And of course, again, I won't actually say her name but only the last letter of her last name because of privacy. :) 

Well, for a while, my mom and I have been going on Tuesdays to Mr. and Mrs. M's house to take care of Mrs.M while her husband went out for bible study because Mrs.M might try to get out of the house and walk anywhere or do other things in the house that may be bad. So we usually go to their house, watch her, give her breakfast, and make sure she is occupied with things. Sometimes she can get aggressive with things. But that is part of having dementia. Whenever we go to their house, she usually says random things and sometimes gets aggressive with things, but my mom tries to give her another thing or change the subject so she doesn't get too aggressive! But also, saying things out of the blue is part of dementia, sadly.

Recently, Mr.M had to take Mrs.M to a caretaker place for people who has dementia because it was getting hard for him to take care of her every day. So for about four weeks, she has been at Willow Springs. And he visits her every day. Last Tuesday, we decided to visit her at Willow Springs. It was, I think, around 2:00 PM when we visited her. We visited her around that time because her husband said that was the time she usually walked around. So when we got there, we asked somebody working there where Mrs. M would be at.  They started to look, and then a different worker said she just sent her to her room. So we got shown into her room. And there we saw Mrs.M! My mom said, "Hi, it's Renee and Johanna here to visit you." She doesn't know who we really are, but that's because of, again, dementia. We had brought some hymns to sing with her because she liked to sing hymns when we usually bring some. So we started to sing with her for at least an hour, and then we asked her if she wanted to read a kid's bible story that we had brought or would like us to read it to her. She didn't respond. And then we asked her if she wanted to sing more, and she said sure. So we started to sing again. But after two songs, she didn't want to sing anymore. 

She said, "It's embarrassing not to remember things." We looked a little surprised at what she had said because she never actually talked much when we watched her. And she also said she knew she had dementia, and it's always hard for her to remember things. Ok, this was super weird! She was telling us that she knew she had dementia! And when you have dementia, you can't really think and can't remember things and say random things that pop up in your head. So for her to say that was amazing! And by the way, this lady was in her 70's! My mom started to ask if she knew her mom since her mom and Mrs.M were close friends a while ago. She said she can't remember. So my mom started to tell her stories of when Mrs.M had her first baby, and she got to watch it. And about her mom. And we even showed her a picture of my mom's mom, Mr. and Mrs.M, and some other friends in a picture together. Mrs.M said they looked familiar to her but can't remember them. My mom said, "That's ok. Do you remember anything of your parents?" Mrs.M said she and her parents had taken her to the beach in a trailer when she was really young once. But that was the only thing she could remember about that. For her to remember something that happened such a long time ago was crazy! It was like almost talking to a person who didn't have dementia! My mom told her that every Tuesday, she and I would go over there super early in the morning to take care of you while Mr.M was at bible study so that if you woke up, she wouldn't have to worry about where was Mr.M. Then she said, I feel so bad for my husband. He has to put up with me. And still, he is with me even when I have dementia. She said she was so glad to have us take care of her and to have a husband like Mr. M. 

At that, tears started to come up. I tried forcing them down, but I just wanted to cry.  It was so sweet to hear her say that. I wasn't sure if I was the only one crying or not, and then my mom looked at me and said, it's so hard not to cry. My mom asked Mrs.M if there was something she can pray for her about. She said that her memory would return and that her back would stop hurting. So my mom started to pray. And after she prayed, Mrs.M asked my mom if there was anything she could pray for her about. My mom said all her kids would marry, have happy families, and be Christians all their lives. So when Mrs.M started to pray, she asked what her kids' names were. So my mom said to repeat after her, Jonathan, Caleb, Nicholas, Noelle, Gideon, Simeon, Ezra, Johanna, and Sophie. After Mrs.M said everything, she said, I can't remember all those names! It's ok, my mom said, laughing. And she started to pray, and I closed my eyes, and the tears just reappeared again! I could control my tears better if I had kept my eyes open. :) So I did. And for some reason, whenever I looked out the window, I could definitely control my tears! Just looking out the window made me happy. Anyways, enough about tears. ;) 

After Mrs.M prayed, we walked to the door and were about to say goodbye when my mom asked her what she would do. Walk around in the hall or try falling asleep. What do you want to do?  Mrs.M said that she was afraid to go out into the hall because she might not be able to go back to her room and might go into a different room on accident because she can't remember. So my mom said she would try to help her with that. So we walked into the hall and showed her that a picture of her face would be right outside her room. Then she said, I look so ugly! My mom said no, you don't. So we had her walk to the middle of the living room that was in the place, and then asked her, now, which way would you think your room would be? She went in the right direction. Also, there were like four different directions she could have gone, but she did go in the right direction! We told her before you go into a room, look at the picture next to the room and see if your picture is one of them. 

She actually started to go into almost every room without looking at the pictures first! We told her we don't want her to go into a different room by accident! And when she looked at a picture that wasn't hers, she said, that's the ugliest face I have ever seen! My mom and I chuckled to ourselves and then said ok, now is that your picture or not. She said it wasn't and then went to the next door to see the picture. Is this your picture my mom asked. No, she said. And so on until we went to her door and asked if that was her picture. She started to be saying no, but my mom said you sure? Look at it closer. Does it look like you? Then she said it was. So she went into her room. Then my mom said, if you still can't find your room, ask one of the workers here for help. They know where your room is. My mom knew she wouldn't remember that but just said it anyway.

 She and I said goodbye, and Mrs.M started to hug me. She actually had never done that before. We would usually hug her, and she would stand there. But this time, she started to hug me. And she even started to smile! And said thank you for your help and for visiting. It was just so sweet! It was like a whole new person! She never smiles, by the way. I know that sounds bad, but she wasn't mean all the time. That was not why she doesn't smile. She just didn't. It was rare to see her smile. She used to before she had dementia and all. So it's just super sweet to see her smile. She even asked me what grade I was in! For her to be talking and smiling and all of that! Man, it was just crazy! I was so glad I was there! Well, we said goodbye to her and headed out the door. We also told her we would return next Tuesday to visit her again! She said she was excited about that!  

Thank you for reading my blog post! Leave comments! Bye!

As you know, I have been taking Spanish classes for a while. It has been going really well. I love learning Spanish! And today, I will write down our story for Spanish class! This story might sound weird to you, but it is so much fun! We make up the story as we go. So it always gets more and more interesting! 
Here is the story in Spanish!

Soy Goerge. Estoy in Tacobell Cottonwood, California. Soy triste por que quiero una Cocola pero no hay Cocola en Tacobell! Es muy terrible. Hay un elefante. El elefante es Dumbo. Dumbo es conmigo. Dumbo taimben quiere una Cocola. Pero no hay Cocola. Asi que, voy a IL, Chicago. Chicago possible tiene Cocola. Dumbo es muy gordo, asi que Dumbo no va a Chicago con me. En Chicago, hay un otro Dumbo! Pero Dumbo numero dos es un mosquito. Dumbo numero dos taimben quiero una Cocola. Pero no normaal Cocola, un mosquito Cocola. 

Hay un pizza. El pizza es Petey. Petey la pizza esta en Nome, Alaska. Alaska es muy frio. Petey esta en Walmart en Nome, Alaska. Pero en la section de elefante, hay un Cucarachas! Cucarachas es malo! Petey quiero una elefante pero no hay elefantes en la section del elephant! Es muy terrible! Asi que, petey va a Chico, California. En Target. En Target en la section del gatos, hay no elefantes! Hay uno gato en la section de gatos. Hay uno gato y es Howard. Howard es bueno. 

Hay un chica. El chica es Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga esta en Soda Springs, Idaho. En Target. En Target, en la section de dulces, hay no dulces. Hay helado! Ella es triste y contento por que, helado es muy rico y ella es triste por que hay no dulces en la section de dulces. 

Now in English!

I am Goerge. I am in Tacobell Cottonwood, California. I am sad because I want a Cocola, but there is no Cocola in Tacobell! It is very terrible. There is an elephant. The elephant is Dumbo. Dumbo is with me. Dumbo also wants a Cocola. But there is no Cocola. So, I go to IL, Chicago. Chicago possibly has Cocola. Dumbo is very fat, so Dumbo does not go to Chicago with me. In Chicago, there is another Dumbo! But Dumbo number two is a mosquito. Dumbo number two also wants a Cocola. But not a normal Cocola, a mosquito Cocola. 

There is a pizza. The pizza is Petey. Petey, the pizza is in Nome, Alaska. Alaska is very cold. Petey is in Walmart in Nome, Alaska. But in the section of the elephants, there are cockroaches! Cockroaches are bad! Petey wants an elephant, but there are no elephants in the section of the elephants! It is very terrible. So, Petey goes to Chico, California. In Target. In Target, in the section of cats, there are no elephants! There is one cat in the section of the cats! There is one cat, and it is Howard. Howard is good. 

There is a girl. The girl is Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga is in Soda Springs, Idaho. In Target, in the section of candy, there is no candy! There is ice cream! She is happy and sad because ice cream is really good, and she is sad because there is no candy in the section of candy!

That's all of the story so far! I hoped you liked it! 

I can understand it pretty well. My mind has to process every new word over and over so I understand it and use it in the right way. Our teacher is super good at teaching us Spanish! He corrects us if we used a word that's not supposed to be used or pronounce it wrong. He is super helpful! And has us repeat the story every time we have a class so we can really get the words down. I am so glad I can be in a Spanish class! And there's going to be more and more as the story keeps going on. Bye! :)

I have been watching shark tank a lot! I LOVE watching it! If you don't know what shark tank is, it's a show on YouTube with five people called sharks since they get lots of deals from people. And sharks ( which are the people) are super rich. It has nothing to do with the animal sharks, by the way. So let's say somebody with a good business walks into the room where the sharks are, and the person says, I want 50,000 for 5% of my company. And then, the sharks discuss it with the other sharks and tell the business owner how much they are making, how much they are selling each one, etc. And after they ask questions and do all of that, the owner may get a deal. But each person who comes into the room asking for this amount of money or this amount of percent, it's a lot of fun watching it! And I also learn from it too! 

Each of the sharks that are usually there because sometimes they switch, and other sharks come in. But the sharks who are usually there, the names of them are Mark, Lori, Kevin, Robert,  and Daymond. I only know one of the sharks' last names, Mark Cuban. And Mark Cuban is the richest of all the other sharks. I don't know who is my favorite shark yet.

It won't let me put the link in, so I can't put the video in. Sorry! But you could probably just search it up on Youtube.

Ok, this guy with a business called Scrub Daddy is asking $100k for 10% of his company. I think the percentage is too low, but you always have to start low, of course, because the Sharks will be asking for more. And I think it works well! And I want one now! He wants the $100k for getting more equipment to make them and is trying to get them into many stores.  He is selling it for $2.80, and the cost to make one is about a dollar. That is a good price even though it's about three times the cost! It works well because, in the video, he showed the sharks how it could scrub off a lot of dirt and rust from the pans and not scratch them. Kevin, (who is one of the sharks ) is saying that it is super expensive. But I don't think so! It can seriously scrub! Robert (also a shark ) says that he can't see it being profitable and that he is out. When the sharks say they are out, that means they don't want to invest in the business.

 So Robert just said he is out. There are four sharks left. Mark said that you are doing great, but when you said you have been on QBC many times, people who are completely relying on QBC, it turns into a disaster, so for those reasons, I am out. Now three sharks are left, Lori, Kevin, and Daymon left. Kevin gives him an offer! He offers $100k but for 50% of his company.  I think that is way too much to offer. Then Daymon offers him a deal! He offers $50k for 15%, but only if you can raise the rest from Lori and if she wants to do business with me. I think that might be a good deal, but Lori says, " No offense, Daymon, " but I don't need you, and my offer is $100k for 30%. Then Kevin changes his offer and says how about I give you $100k for a royalty of 50 cents per unit until 100k is repaid. But then again, Daymon changes his offer to $150k for 25%. But AGAIN, Lori changed her offer and asked for $100k but for 25%. So now, after they changed their offers, there are three. Which one is he going to take?

Lori's offer is $100k for 25%.yalty of 50 cents per unit until $100k is paid back.

Daymond's offer is $150k for 25%.

Ok, Lori changed her mind AGAIN! And matched the Daymonds deal! Then Daymond changed his mind too! He said $175k for %25. Once again, Lori changed her offer and said $275k for 25%. And Daymond said he couldn't match that anymore, so he's out. So now it's obvious who to pick! Lori is the deal I would so take. Then the guy asked if Lori would go down on the percentage and go down to 20% instead of 25%. She said yes, she will! Wow! Even if she hadn't said yes to going down to 25%, I would soooo take that deal! And in the end, he made Lori's offer! I think he did really well!

I have been listening to an audiobook story on Audible called " Rich Dad, Poor Dad. " It is about managing your money and not working for money but instead having money work for you. And understanding how it works and how to do that. It has been really good so far! I would so recommend it! It is called rich dad and poor dad because this kid in a small town whose father was poor and his friend's dad was rich, and the writer is the kid whose father was poor. And so his friend's dad has been teaching his kid and him how to manage your money and make money work for you, and the story is about that. And also, the rich dad's son is nine years old, and the poor dad's son is also nine. So pretty young and learning how to make money, but they are getting along and understanding well. 

Do you want to know how the poor dad got poor? And how the rich dad got rich? It's great how! So how the poor dad got poor is that he went to school. And went to college. And got good grades and won awards. You might be saying," What? He got good grades and went to college! How is that possible that he is poor from doing that?!". Well, let me try to explain; by going to school, what do you learn? You learn math, algebra, reading, science, Biology, writing, and history. Yeah, you learn a lot, but what don't you learn? Try to guess. How to manage your money, make a business, and get money working for you and not you working for money.  They teach you how to make money by working for money in school.
Well, you might say, why is that bad to work for money? Ok, well, let's say you have a job that you go to every morning, and you have to get up and eat, get dressed, go to work, come back, let's say around 6:00 PM, eat, get dressed, sleep, get up in the morning and do the same thing every day of your life—working for money. And your dreading to pay your taxes. Trying to save money. But also, when you get a raise, let's say, and you are really happy about that, and there is something that you have been saving up to get. And you buy that thing, and you get tired after a month. It's not exciting anymore! And you wonder, why did I buy this? That is what money does to you. It makes you greedy to want more and more! It was a great idea to buy it in your mind at the time, but after a while, you ask yourself again, why did I buy this?

And you want to know why college is bad to go to? Well, number one, college is crazy expensive! And you have to get loans to pay it off. And after you get the loans to pay for college, you buy books there to learn about math, etc. At the end of the day, you learn what? Well, this is what you don't learn. How to raise a business, how to manage money and do the things you love to do! Those things are super important to learn! If you want to be a doctor and get a degree, you need to go to college for that. Because let's say you went to a doctor's office and you need to have surgery done. And this doctor who is homeschooled and has been practicing how to be a doctor and didn't get a degree yet to be a professional doctor, well, I don't think you want him to be doing surgery on you! So do go to college if you want to be a doctor or other things that need to have a degree. But if you went to college just to get a good education, well don't go! I am not so anti-college because you do need to go to college to be a doctor and etc. But the things I have been saying, you probably think I am anti-college. But just know that I am trying to say don't go to college just for a good education. Go do homeschooling! 

Now back to what I was saying earlier. After you pay for your books at college and other stuff too, and it's time to pay up for the loans, you don't even have enough to pay for it! Some people have enough, but it will be hard to get through, and it's a waste of time! You can learn that when you are homeschooled, and even better, you can learn how to manage your money! And have money working for you! And it's free! You don't have to pay thousands of dollars! You don't have to go to college because you literally learn the same at home or wherever you are. It's pointless. I am not saying that learning math, science, etc. Is bad! I am not at all! Learning all those things is also important, but I am saying that learning how to manage your money and having money work for you instead of you working for money is important too! And you know what? That is how the rich dad got rich! He only did the math and all of that till 5th grade! I am not saying you should do that either at all! But that is what, in the story, the rich dad said about the 5th-grade thing. 

After you learn how to manage your money and already have money working for you, you don't have to wake up dreading paying your taxes, doing the same thing every day, and not learning anything. You can wake up and do a lot of different things every day! Learning more and more about money and how to manage your business better! And you can learn how to buy things that will help your business and not be something you want just because your neighbor has it or you think it's pretty cool to look at it. But sometimes you can buy something that you have always wanted! But you must be careful of how much of those things you buy. And even buying a Starbucks every day or every other day! Now I know I am only a 12-year-old saying all of this. But this is what I think and what I learned from the audiobook. And I am still learning more and more!

This is what I want to put at the bottom here. 

Don't go to college. Be homeschooled, learn what you're passionate about, and see what your talent is! You should always do the things you think you are really talented about! The things you love to do. God gave you and me and everybody a talent so we can do what we love and be praising him for it! And be faithful to him. Don't throw your talent away and do other things you don't like to do but only like because you get a lot of money. A talent is super special. " Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10. 

Thank you for reading my blog post. :)