The Difference Between Alpacas and Llamas

Many people do not really know the difference between a llama and an alpaca. However, there are many ways that they differ.
 Firstly, the appearance. Llamas are typically bigger than alpacas. The alpaca has pointier and tinier ears than a llama, which has much longer ears. There is of course a difference in the body shape of alpacas and llamas, what with alpacas having rounded backs and llamas having flatter backs. 

 Secondly is their fiber. Alpaca fiber is usually very soft and ample. The fiber can either be huacaya, which is fluffy and sheep-like on the alpaca, or suri, which looks much more loose and stringy. Llamas have much more of a variety of fibers, which can range from light to heavy, silky to suri, or high to low quality fiber.
Alpacas and llamas are used for very different things. Llamas tend to have more use. Training a llama is easy, and once trained it can be used for guarding livestock and companionship  for other herding animals. They can also be trained to do obstacle courses. Alpacas, however, are usually only used for their fiber and for showing. They are much harder to train, and much more shy.
As you see, there is a great difference when it comes to alpacas and llamas. Although they are both part of the camelid family, they are not the same species.

11/13

 Bad day again. Can you guess why? Yep. Darcy.
   It started out not so much bad, but mildly irritating. It was raining, the bus was late, and I had my science fair board. What a great mix. But the board survived, and so did I. First block was when things started going downhill.
   My first block I share with Rhianna(a best friend) and Darcy. I informed Rhianna that we were fighting, just so she would know and not have to wonder why we were not talking. We all had to sit together on the bleachers (we were in Chorus). Rhianna then proceeded to ask why I was mad at her, and I said that Darcy said some really hurtful things to me. So Darcy decides to join the conversation, saying that the truth hurts, that her hurtful words were true because her parents said so, and other really mean things. I started crying and asked the Chorus Teacher if I could go to the bathroom. She saw i was crying, and pulled me aside to ask me what happened. I told her, and she gave me some words of encouragement. I asked Darcy one more time to stop, explaining that I was uncomfortable with talking about boys, wearing makeup, and doing other girly things. She still said that all those mean things she said was the truth.
  Second block was uneventful, but during third block, the guidance counselor pulled me out of class. The Chorus Teacher had told her what happened. She comforted me, and told me if there were any other problems, I should talk to her.
  I thought the day would get better from there, but I was wrong. Darcy had started lying to make it seem like she did nothing wrong. First she lied to Rhianna, saying that I was the one who was lying, then she lied to Mark, saying that she was joking and I just took it too seriously. I have proof the last one is a lie. During the first conversation we had, the one that really hurt, I asked her multiple times if she was joking, and she said no. Then, when I started crying, she did not explain it was a joke. Nope, she let me cry. Then, this morning, when I was CLEARLY hurt by her words, did she explain that she was joking? Nope. She is obviously lying.
  Once again I was cheered up by my amazing family, but I fear tomorrow. I have another block with her, and I don't want to get hurt again. I don't want another bad day.

Weekend Update (11/9-12)

So I have decided to bunch all my weekends up into one post, and since we had Monday off, I decided to throw that day in too.

 
Saturday- Saturday was not very eventful. However, I DID get a lot of raking done. It may seem weird, but I really like raking. That is why I cannot wait until this Saturday for raking Seaford.

Sunday- Sunday was a MUCH more eventful day. I don't know if mom went to church or not, but I overslept, sadly. Once everyone was up, we decided to get lunch at Chili's. After having Chili's, we went back home and planned the rest of the day. We decided to go see Wreck-it-Ralph. I raked a bit, then we left. Wreck-it-Ralph was great! Such an amazing movie. I recommend seeing it. After the movie, we went by Walmart to pick up my grandmother's gift to me. It was a touch lamp! You just touch it and it turns on, with three different settings! My grandma has one that I loved in Hawaii. Now it is like having a piece of Hawaii (and my grandparents) with me. Momma also brought her and me matching Cookie (NOT VEGGIE) Monster pajama sets. They are super comfy and warm. Perfect for the winter season. She also got Mark a mini pool table because, well, Mark loves pool! It is so pitifully small, but Mark seems to enjoy it. We spent the rest of the night playing pool and watching Tim set up the lamp because honestly, I take after mom. I can't build something to save my life. I would much rather write an essay or something like that.

Monday- Monday quite literally consisted of only two things: Raking and Science Fair. I detest science fair projects. I had to finish my entire board. As for raking, I finally finished the yard, leaving a couple huge piles. I did not do an amazingly wondrous job since by Friday it will probably be just as bad as before. I think this fall my main job will be raking, which I don't mind. I worked pretty late on my project but I got it done.

   All in all, it was a great weekend. I hope the week will be the same way.

11/9/12

Today was not a very good day. I mean school went fine, I was just sort of tired and ready for the three day weekend, but it all went bad on the afternoon bus...
  You see, earlier that day, I was in P.E. with my best friend, Darcy. She wanted to talk about a guy that she thinks likes her. It was one of those silly conversations, where you would dissect every single thing the boy did, and analyze it thoroughly, just to come up with the answer, "I don't know". Well, I sort of stopped liking those conversations, so I said, "I don't really want to talk about boys," and changed the subject. Everything seemed fine, but on the afternoon bus, she sat by me and  said some really mean things. First, she said that since I didn't like talking about boys and wearing makeup and stuff like that, I wasn't actually a girl. Then she literally referred to me as an "it", like I'm some disgusting creature. It gets worse. She then proceeded to say that I was immature and not good enough for society's standards of a teenage girl. I started crying, and she went to sit with her other friend, and just laughed and played around with them. Her words really stung. I mean, why would my supposed best friend say such cruel things?
  I am thankful, however, for having such a wonderful family. When I got home, mom comforted me and Mark brought my spirits up by, well, being crazy! I feel much better now, but I still have no clue why she would hurt me like that. It was completely pointless and completely rude. And it really made me feel horrible.
  I hope I can get some answers Tuesday.

11/8/12

 So, I think I'm not going to post on Wednesdays, they are just too busy. So I will inform you on Thursdays, instead!
 Wednesday- It was incredibly busy. Once I got out of school (which was boring) I went to church drama, which was awesome! We started practicing for next weeks skit. Afterward, I went home and did my homework. I wanted to come to church, but mom was feeling sick, so we did not go. I went to bed a bit late because of homework. I also checked on the seeds. No growth.
Thursday- Well, today was an OK day. I was supposed to do my solo in chorus, but we were too busy getting ready for the winter concert. I did, however, get to do my oral presentation in French. I did pretty good, I hope. At lunch, thanks to the B.Y.O.T program (Bring Your Own Technology) I got to bring my DSi. It was really fun.
   After school, I went to school drama practice. We got on computers and found pictures of costumes for the characters, and pictures of what we want the set/props to look like. I printed lots of pictures for the graveyard scene. I have kinda made the props and set for that scene my own little project. I do that sometimes.
   After drama, mom picked me up and went home. She had a teleconference, but when she was done with that, we went to subway for Mark's birthday. It tasted really good, and Mark was happy. The rest of the night was pretty relaxed.
  Tomorrow is Friday, and we have Monday off! Yay!

11/6/12

So today we had school off because of the election, which is really cool. I had a great and fun day!
  For the first part of the day, I did not really do much. I slept in late and just read Mark of Athena. But at around 12, I got a text from my friend Darcy, asking if I could go to this place called Rebounders. Rebounders is this place in Newport news, where you pay money for an hour inside a room where the walls and floor is made out of TRAMPOLINES! So of course I said yes, and used some of my Birthday Money to go. And it was WORTH IT! That place is so much fun! You can do tricks off the walls, jump into a foam pit, or just jump around! Man was it amazing. And a good workout, too!
  After Rebounders, I came home and had dinner. Then I worked on my science project. I am growing Lima beans in oil and water. I had to prepare the seeds. I put the seeds in paper towels soaked in oil/water, then put them is plastic baggies. Finally, I put them in Keli's room (her room is the only one with a heater) by her window for light. I learned a new fact today: I HATE vegetable oil. It is so slimy and yucky and hard to get off. Oh well.
  Well, I had a great day, but I CANNOT wait until tomorrow! After like three weeks, church drama will be back on! Yay!

Hello!

       I'm back! Today is my birthday, and as a birthday celebration, I have decided start this blog up again!

       I have not posted for about five or six months. I am not exactly sure why. I just...well, stopped posting! Different things got in the way, and I stopped wanting to post anymore. But now I finally do again, and what better time to start it up than on my birthday? So I changed the name, changed the URL, and changed the layout! It is time to start fresh with this blog!
   
     I will still attempt to post every single day, but some days I might miss it, or some days I might post twice! This blog will definitely not be very consistent. But I promise, I will not take a LONG break like I did this time.

   Expect new posts to come very soon!

              ~Bethany