Little Miss hide your scars.

What a year. It was unlike any other year I could have ever imagined. I laughed till I cried, and I cried till I laughed. If that wasn't clichéd enough for you, stay tuned.

It started off with a cell phone. Which I must honestly say, improved this year so much. Then, in February, I fell for this guy. I'd be lying if I said I didn't still think about him a lot. February also lead to tragedy...One of my best friend's little sister passed away at the age of 8 after a life-long battle with mental and physical handicaps. Rest in peace, precious girl. We miss you. <3 I swear I listened to nothing but "Remembering Sunday" for two months straight. It ended with a much needed party with all of my friends to take our minds off of that. Sledding, laughing, pictures, & Nessa's famous chocolate chip cookies. Then I went into a spiraling depression (over-dramatic) for about a week because I couldn't go on the softball trip to Florida. But then softball started & led to some of the best times. My last year of softball with Gab, Meagan, & Nessie. Hannah & Molly crawling in the outfield, looking for a four-leaf clover for B. Winning Districts. Losing my voice at every game. "We're sisters...our parents were a four-way." In March came my fifteenth birthday. Mine & my best friend's. I can't say it was the best birthday I ever had. But it didn't suck. Although I couldn't walk because softball had just started. Anyway...#sidebar. April...lemme think. More softball. Tons and tons and tons of softball. May...even more softball. Then June. Finally. :) I took finals and I was officially done with being a freshman. Saturday, June 12th. That morning, I was up bright and early to play for graduation. I cried. Just like every year. No more Molly, Hannah, Karley, Steven...and so many more. But this year is going to be worse. I'm not ready to think about all the people I'm going to lose this summer. But that day continued to be wonderful. I went to Sugarland soundcheck that afternoon. Jennifer said we were her prisoners. The high walls at the amphitheater were so we couldn't escape. Or to keep the snakes out, she wasn't sure. ;) That night was...an amazing concert. I got to meet the wonderful Annie Clements, and the Sugars put on one heck of a show. The rest of that month included late nights and epic conversations. July...fourth of July with my best friend, and the most stressful bike ride of my life. Nothing like being told your friend flipped over the handlebars and you have to ride all the way to her house to take care of her because her d-bag brothers won't get off their duffs. ANYWAY. I'd be lying if I didn't say I partied a lot more than usual this summer. Waterfights and deadly driveways. August brought about one of the most epic JNETT rambles that never happened. ;) Camelbeach with Cassandra, Britt, Joey, Emmy, & Alex. It became the year of the Blackberry as of August 15th. Followed by an amazing party at Cook's as one final hoooooorah before school. BUCKETOFCHIPS. Sophomore year started. But forget that first boring week of school. Fast-forward to September 4th. I was up bright and early, but who could sleep? I had tickets to see SUGARLAND IN COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK. I adore Sugarland. I adore Cooperstown. How could it get better? Oh yeah. LITTLE BIG TOWN WAS THE OPENER. The morning was spent drinking coffee and at the Baseball Hall Of Fame, while the afternoon was spent listening to an epic soundcheck and waiting in line. With Emily, someone who I had met through Sugarland on the computer and had a blast with that day and night at the concert. I met Little Big Town, and was FIFTEEN.FEET.AWAY. from the stage the entire night. I can't even believe it happened. It was completely amazing. Music has changed my life and introduced me to so many amazing people. After that, it was hard to get into school and the boring normal routine. But I was brought down pretty quickly from my Sugarhigh by the death of my step-grandpa. I'm not going to lie and say that I was really close to him, but I also can't lie and say that I haven't missed him at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Because I have. On the other hand, school this year has been hilarious. I've laughed in class so hard that I've cried, and I wouldn't give up my peer tutoring group for anything in the world. I love each and every one of them so very much. <3 October brought amazing new music from Sugarland and TSwift, and also braces. These things are torturing me as we speak...er, type. November brought a state championship from our boys AND girls Cross Country teams. It brought a Thanksgiving with my whole family - something I haven't had in years. I especially miss my Aunt Audrey & my crazy ass Uncle Chris. ♥ Now it's the last day of December. This month has been...honestly, boring. Haha. I ended out the year today with my best friend and I'm spending Sunday with her too.

Overall, I couldn't have asked for a whole lot more from 2010. Except maybe a boyfriend. 2011, can we work something out about that? ;) But seriously. I've cried more than usual this year, but honestly I've never been happier.

To the people that have made this year the best year ever:

• Susanne Bonita. You've been my best friend, literally, since we were born. Those 2 months we were fighting were the hardest months of my life. I needed someone to talk to, and the only person I wanted to talk to was you. You've been there for me when I really needed you, and I can't thank you enough for that. When I was down, you made me smile. It's my life-long goal to teach you to strum a guitar. I won't die until I do. :)
• Erin Nicole. EPickle. I've never even met you, but it's at the top of my list of things to do in 2011. I easily consider you one of my best friends. You ARE me. It's actually quite creepy. We have so many inside jokes that it's like having our own language. You're there for me, and I'm there for you, and we can never fail to make each other laugh. Or just scare the crap out of each other by being exactly the same...again. No matter how many times I call you a whore, I love you. :)
• Jakey. You call me your little sister...who just happens to be better at math than you. ;) For the past two years, you were the hilarious big brother I never had. You always make me smile, and there are so many moments that wouldn't have been the same without you there. Thank you.
• My peer tutoring group: Vanessa Lynn, Gabrielle Katherine, Michael, Jacob, Abigail Margaret, Erin Elizabeth, Kellie Ann, Kirsten Renee, Emmmmmylouu, & Lacey Jay. Peer tutoring is the highlight of my school day, every day. Between our Santa Hole and our gossip circle, Mr. Rez is easily the most blessed teacher in the world. ;) Vanessa, you're going to hell. Lower than Hell. But I love you. All of you. :)
• Cassandra Rae. I'm so glad you moved home from Maryland. I can only imagine if you'd stayed here all those years in between. Peaches. All Imma say, girl. ;)
• To my always-tolerant "Aunt" Stacy - you've taught me a lot about life, growing up, and most importantly...grammar. ;) Thank you for being there for me, even when I'm being a whiny teenager. :)
• All other Sugarfriends. Lindsay, Sarah, Felicia, Emily...everyone. All I can say is: thank you for the pictures and laughs. Here's to another year of memories in 2011. :)
• Last but not least, to the people who have helped me through everything without ever knowing: Jennifer Odessa Nettles & Kristian Merrill Bush. You two help me find the best in the bad and forget my troubles if need be. You never fail to paint a smile on my face in a way that only you two can. I have you to thank for this amazing year. Someday I'll do it in person. I love you both.

Twenty-ten made me realize that I have to be thankful for what I have. I'm learning to speak up for myself and find my place, but it's a lot harder than I thought. I'm learning to sort out my priorities, and not let the same old stuff get to me. I'm learning that things that I was taught I shouldn't talk about...I can. I'm learning that it's okay to not put on an act that I'm okay all the time. I'm learning to laugh at everything I can find humor in, and to find humor in everything. I've learned a lot this year, but I honestly feel like I don't know half the stuff I need to about growing up. I'm just glad I have people in my life that can help me along the way. So to each and everyone of you: Thank you. I love you. So...Goodbye, 2010. Thank you for the lessons and the laughs. And hey, 2011? Let's be friends, okay? :)

I love Gobstoppers. They're amazing. I've been telling everyone this all weekend. The red ones are my favorite. Green & Purple are tied for second. You can have my yellow and orange ones if you want. My dad just informed my that I should change the world by commenting on Sugarland's Bloomsburg Fair tour date and informing them that it is not called the "Bloomsburg City Fair" because, in fact, Bloomsburg is the only town in Pennsylvania, as all good Pennsylvanian's know. I don't think I will. I'm listening to Michael Kay commentate the Yankees game. Derek Jeter's batting. He just hit a home run. Now we're up 9-8. There's a car in the ad on the right of my screen that reminds me of a Mexican Chili Pepper. I don't like Mexican Chili Peppers. He wants me to roll over the ad so I can drive him. But I don't like Mexican Chili Peppers. So therefore I don't think I'll drive him. I want a Jamaican swimming cap. I want a lot of things. I want Jennifer Nettles to come be my big sister. I'll go be hers. It doesn't matter. I got the new MSN. It's fancy. No, you can't have my screen name. Maybe you can. Depends on if you ask. And if I like you. I don't like everyone, you know. Some people annoy me. I try to tolerate them to the best of my ability. We talked about a man from Sugar Land, TX this morning in church. I giggled. I feel like I'm typing in somewhat of a monotone. I guess drone would be a better word. My neck hurts. My fingers are stiff. I have an odd sunburn. There were horses in the parade yesterday. I need to upload new pictures. I enjoy putting red, green, and purple Gobstoppers in my mouth at the same time. My little download circle is spinning. It says I should download the evil car ad. I don't think so. That reminds me of a Carrie Underwood song. My head hurts. I wonder what ever happened to Tambo. I'd like to meet him. I think I want a pair of Geisha/Skull shoes. I also want tanker boots. So that I don't burn up. And, I'd appreciate a guitar with a red sparkly pick guard. A black guitar with such a pick guard. Johnny Damon just scored. Now we're up 10-8. Thanks to Jorge Posada. Thank you. I just cracked my ankles. Now I've bent my pinky all the way back. I love how that disturbs most people. I have a Derek Jeter rookie card sitting in front of me. And two dollars. And these are all sentence fragments. I love Twitter. I think it's awesome. Reba's Twitter is screwy. I'm going to go count how many times she's tweeted the exact same thing. It only says 3. I know it's been more like 30. Twitter lied. I think she's been hacked. Blake's going to be on Good Morning America tomorrow. God help Diane Sawyer. Maybe she'll smack him. I'll be watching. I haven't used a smiley face this entire post. And look how long it is. You should all be shocked. This must be some kind of record for me. Today is Carly's birthday. I should email her. If she weren't grounded. Tomorrow is Meagan's birthday. Yeah. Joey is an awesome song. I want a video now. Love Shack was just released as a video. Haven't seen it yet. Saddened by that. Haven't heard Joey on the radio yet. This also makes me sad. This blog post is bringing me down, due to lack of smileys. This makes me want to add even less smileys. It's a vicious cycle. I own at least two copies of all 3 Sugarland CD's in one way or another. iTunes counts as part of that. Katie Bryce is Jennifer's little sister. She's awesome. & so sweet. Just like her sissy. The Sugarband is the coolest. Sugarland is the best. Sekurity. S'all I'm gonna say.

Setup: So, I logged on to Facebook, and saw that one friend was online in that chat. So I thought, "Okay, cool, let's find out who it is." I click on it, and it's BRANDON. BUSH. Yes, my friends, as in Kristian Bush of Sugarland's brother. Who also plays keyboard for them. And has an amazing mustache and ABOUT a bajillion tattoos. So, I make my status message as follows: "okay, if I wasn't such a chicken, I'd chat with Brandon Bush, because he's online. But I'm a chicken." &, you know, I guess he saw it, because while I was sitting here playing my guitar, my facebook tab started flashing, so I look up, and it says, "New Message from Brandon!" Me: "...." Facebook: *flashes repeatedly for 30 seconds before it sinks in.* Me: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Yes, my friends, I died and went to Sugarland heaven, but then I came back from the dead, because, HELLOOO, Brandon Bush just IMed me and was waiting for a response. I know I sounded like a total dork, but here's how our conversation went:

Brandon
oh, don't be such a chicken
6:19pm

Courtney
DUDE.
Sorry. Hahah. I'm a very shy person who is extremely obsessed. (:
6:19pm

Brandon
I couldn't resist a status call out like that
6:19pm

Courtney
Hahah, well, I'm glad you couldn't. (:
So, how's life on the road treating you? Or, rather I guess off the road because of Jenn's voice. How's she doing?
6:21pm

Brandon
I'm enjoying a little down time
but we are playing again on Friday
6:22pm
(Please note that he never actually answered my question about Jenn.  But I understand that.  Good call, buddy.)

Courtney
I know! I can't wait for her to get singing again. More YouTube concert videos! (: And, by the way, your mustache is pretty awesome. (:
6:22pm

Brandon
ha thanks. it is fun to grow
6:23pm

Courtney
I would imagine. And the monocle adds to it very nicely. (:
6:23pm

Brandon
yes, now if I can just find velocipede I'll have it all together
6:25pm
(See, at this point it took me two minutes to reply because I had to Google the word "velocipede.")

Courtney
Ah, when I see those on the boardwalk on vacation, it's extremely hard to resist the urge to jump on it. That outfit would remind me of the guy who played Uncle Monty in A Series Of Unfortunate Events...
6:25pm

Brandon
I should see that movie.
6:26pm

Courtney
You'd enjoy the little girl, Sunny. Cutest kid ever. (:
6:26pm

Brandon
cool. I'll put it on my way-too-long-to-ever-get-to-them-all movie list.
right next to my book list by the same name.
ok, I should go.

nice chatting with you!
and thanks for the status call out
6:27pm

Courtney
hahah, i have one of those too. It was AWESOME chatting with you! See you in Bloomsburg in October.  & You're welcome!  (:
See you!
6:27pm

Brandon
see ya
6:27pm

Okay, so I know it wasn't even ten minutes, but it was amazing.  If you know me, the only thing that could be better would be Jenn IMing me.  Or showing up at my doorstep, but that's a whole different fantasy for an entirely different blog post.  And a much, much longer one. (:

 

So, in other news, I went to Baltimore.  Videos on YouTube. (:  I got confirmed this morning, and it appears that my Guitar Hero: World Tour controller isn't working.  SUCKISH.  Jenn got sick, I got sad, then she got better, and I got happy.  I found some awesome Canadian interviews on the Canadian CMT website. This makes me want to meet Canadians; they're hilarous. :D  & I found this really awesome review by one of the "RealLY Girls."  All I'm gonna say for now is, "It must be the altitude."  AND, I've made a breakthrough on guitar.  I'm pretty dang good at that "muting with your palm" thing.  I can now play "Our Song" and the intro to "It Happens."  WHICH REMINDS ME, just went #1 this week.  SWEET.  It's only been on there for 13 WEEKS and it's number one.   Super great!  Congratulations to Jenn & Kristian.  ( & Annie, Brandon, Scott, Thad, &Travis because they're just awesome like that.)  Taylor's on Oprah tomorrow, and I'm watching. (:  Because softball is over!  Or at least school ball is.  Teeners just started. :)  So, things are slowing down.  I have my High Honors banquet on Wednesday, and only 17 days of school left.  YESSS. <3  I'll check back in later! :D

lovelovelove [on the inside],

-C-

Wow, I really haven't updated this in forever. But, like I said, I'm not a blogger girl! Okay, so, let's see. The last time I blogged was...December 19^th. Crap! :X So, here we go!


Well, let's start with Christmas. I GOT A GUITAR! And a Wii. But I GOT A GUITAR. See, now that says there's something seriously wrong with me: when I'm more excited about the guitar than the Wii. But I've been playing the guitar obsessively, trying to teach myself. It's pretty addicting. Like, right now, I have a video loading to show me how to play the beginning of "The Best Day" by Taylor. Honestly, I'm not very good, but my friends think I'm amazing. [Thanks Kati and Susanne, and I hate to break it to you, but you're wrong.] And my main inspiration? Jennifer Nettles. Of course! Along with a bunch of other people I love, like Taylor Swift, and such. Plus, it just looked like a lot of fun! So, yess.

And, I took my Christmas money and bought Guitar Hero: World Tour. Sweeeet. So much fun. But they need some Sugarland songs, or Taylor Swift, or Kellie Pickler, or Coldplay, or SOMETHING. I mean, Aerosmith has their own Guitar Hero! Why not Jenny & Kristian? They're good people! But, I digress. I'm rambling.

NEXT?! Stomach flu. Oh, joy.

Yeah, I got inducted into the National Junior Honors Society--WITHOUT lighting myself on fire, thank you very much.

Hmm, OH YEAH. Sugarland started their new tour.! :D !!!! Announced dates, and GUESS WHERE THEY'RE COMING ON OCTOBER FIRST! Back to see me. (: Yesss. This is amazinnn'. I basically screamed, ran around my house, and told everyone I know [and a few I didn't] that they were coming back to see ME! Yeah, me. (: I'm fully convinced I'll be walking around the fair and I'll see Jennifer Odessa Nettles eating a funnel cake, or kettle corn, or chocolate, or riding on a roller coaster. Because she loves all of 'em. (:

AND I had my birthday. FOURTEEN! Finally. Next year, I'll get my permit, and thanks to Mario Karts, I'm a pretty good driver. :D We went to the St. Patty's Day Parade [a tradition!] and Krispy Kreme. Observe!:




(:



Annie Clements has the most amazing sense of humor. And, I can't look at that picture of her and Jenn without cracking up. When I saw it, I was like, "Who's that with Ann-OHMYGOODNESS, IT'S JENN." It's one of the funniest pictures ever. AND, note to readers: Do not go on a tour of Guinness without buying a ticket. Yeah.
And the picture of her and Jenn? Check it out:







And now, ladies and gentlemen? They're gonna be on Oprah. And Soundstage! "So good." (: Ahhh, yes. Sugarland RoadBlock. Sweet. They just played "It Happens," "Joey," and "Genevieve." Ahh, Joey, good times, gooood times. (:
So, I'm sitting here, in my new softball uniform, watching Sugarland & Taylor Swift YouTube videos: story of my life. :)