I got this via email, and thought it was worth sharing with those of you whose email addresses I do not have. I hope it touches you.

To realize
The value of a sister
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.

To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.

To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.

To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a still born.

To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
who has given birth to
A premature baby.

To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize
The value of one hour:
Ask the lovers who are waiting to Meet.

To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident...

To! realize
The value of one millisecond:
Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics

Time waits for no one.

Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when
you can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend:
Lose one.


This is where I should say something profound, but I think that would ruin your personal responses to it, so I will just leave you with one word: LIVE. Have a good new year. 2004!!!

" 'Strangers,' the Blue Man said,, 'are just family you have yet to come to know.' " The Five People You Meet In Heaven


The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom is a book I am 63 pages into, and it is amazing. I highly highly highly recomend it. It is about how you touch and affect the lives of people, and you never realize it. Maybe you smiled to someone in the hallway at school, and it pulled them back from that cliff, at the last second, and this book shows you what an impact you have on other people's lives, and never know it. It makes you take a step back and understand that everyone's life is another string in the intricate web of life. Minus one string, all other strings could not remain woven together. If you are looking for a good read, this is a great one. Makes you realize what a huge role you play in a world that is full of people, often making us feel like nothings in a sea of lives. Very good.


PS-this doesn't mean you shouldn't go out and try to make the world a better place, it just shows that when you feel your life is worhtless and you have had no impact on the lives around you, even the smallest souls that creep silently, unnoticed into your life, you're wrong!

So, today is my sixteenth birthday. Last night, my sister was sleeping over at a friend's house. Then they called me, and said that Brodie from G105 said that if they slept outside the studio all night, then they could meet Clay Aiken. And they thought that woudl be an awesome Birthday present for me, so they called me. So my sister's friends, her mom, my sister, and I all slept out on the brick walkway outside of the G105 studio. We got there about 10pm last night, and finally drifted off to sleep about. . .oh I don't know. . . 1 or 2 am. Then, after rising at 4am due to the freezing temperatures, and windy conditions, we sang clay songs at the top of our lungs as we froze in line (1st in line) outside the studios. It was cold, but it wouldn't have been so bad if all the radio employees weren't walking in and out every five seconds with doughnuts and coffee.
About 11:30, Brodie and Blair from G105 came out and hung out with us for a while. Brodie is rather short. hehe. He had his girlfriend with him, who is quite a bit taller than he is, and is a total ditz. But they talked to us, about everything from Clay to Justin Timberlake, to Survivor, to colleges. It was interesting, to say the least. They are super nice, though.
So, about 5:15am, other Clay-niacs, started showing up. Meanwhile, news cameras were constantly coming around and talking to us. They always made me show them my sign, which said, "I'm Sweet 16 Today, Sing For Me!" Altogether, there were like 12 of us outside waiting for Clay. THe other people, however, had NOT lost feeling in their toes, nose, and fingers, and they had gotten tons of sleep the night before! So we waited, and waited and waited, listening to a portable radio, to the conversations between Bob, Clay, Erica, Brodie, and one other girl, but her name escapes me at the moment. Then Brodie came down, and being the awesome guy that he is, he distracted the other Clay fans, so that the four of us could go around the building and get one on one time with Clay. I got to go up to Clay, and Denise's (my sister's friend's) mom told him that it was my sixteenth birthday, so he hugged me, took a picture with his arms around me, and sung to me. It was really really special to meet someone so famous, who would take those five minutes out of his day to sing to ME! And then NBC 17 was trying to interview me, and I couldn't talk. I was like jumping up and down and screaming, "Clay Aiken sung to me, and Clay Aiken hugged me." It was really special. [If I can figure out how to post pics, I will put his and mine up here ;)]
For someone so famous, and who went multi-platinum, he is really really grounded. He is so down to earth. If I didn't know he was famous, I wouldn't have guessed in a million years. He still acts like the well-mannered, southern boy he is. He thanked us about 10 times for just coming out and another 15 for talking to him. I was like "WOW!" It was really really special. There are a lot of people who don't get this opportunity, and I feel really lucky that I got to. I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season! Enjoy.
Funny quotes from the Clay-experience:

"Not in the picture; not in the picture; not in the picture, even though I have on my cute Britney Spears pants; not in the picture." -Brodie's gf

"Oh my gosh. He just touched my sweatshirt. I am never going to wash this ever again. Clay touched it. Clay. Clay Clay, touched it." - Me. hehehe

"Wait, you mean I am supposed to be able to feel my toes?" Denise

"Maybe if we do the Charleston and the Harlem shake, Clay will come down adn talk to us." my sister

"It not Crazy. It's CLAY-ZY!" -Denise

"OCD is NOT Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It's Obsessive CLAY Disorder!" -Me, telling some reporter what Denise's sign meant.

"Brodie, you should sing for Lindsay, it's now officially 12:01, so it's her birthday." -Denise's mom

"Oh, he won't sing cause he sucks!" -Denise

"Good morning Crazy A**es." -Bob

~Lins

Threat rating: Low. You are annoying, but too much
of a softy tree hugger to pose any threat to
the mighty machine of Republican progress. And
the FBI know where you live.


What threat to the Bush administration are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I have to put this on here. I got the idea from Melissa's Blog, so all credit must be give to Melissa for this incredibly amusing site.

Quotes from class:


"This is FUN with a captial N!" -John W. in Adv. Alg II

"Listen to what I mean and not what I say." -Amy I. in Adv. Alg II

"The plumber is unclogging her life." Someone in Eng.

"I can't spin on my head." Kevin W. after I told him that I could spin on my head

"You know you prance when you run, right?" Cati B. after watching me at the bball game

"You should break dance and spin on your head at Open Mic Night! You would have to wear gangsta clothing, though, and you could even shave your head!!" -Kevin W.

"your my crazy monkey and that so kosherly rox my soxs." Mickella R.

"This is atomic time," Mr. Myer, holding up his phone, as he desperately tried to convince us that we still had three minutes until class ended.
"But here we go by Humble time, and Dr. Humble doesn't care about atomic crap."- Someone in my eng. class

"The best years of your life" are so quickly transforming into the years from hell. Your peers are watching your every move, listening to every word eminating from your mouth, judging how you dress, and who you are. The adults are pressuring you to do this, and be that, as they scrutinize every move you make.

You're caught between pleasing your peers, living up to the expectations of the adults around you, and trying to stay true to yourself.

It is one of the most emotionally draining and psychologically tormenting periods that people ever have to endure. Colleges are closely examining everything about you, teachers are constantly on your back to be better, peers are telling you to shrug it all off. Meanwhile, you spend hours completing tedious assignments and studying until all hours of the morning for tests, and your extra curricular activities take up all your other time. The sleep deficiency is beginning to break you down. But remember. . . THESE ARE THE BEST YEARS OF YOUR LIFE!

Yes, now that my tyraid is over, I must say that despite these constant ups and downs, I am finding myself more and more involved in school clubs and sports, and also more engaged in my studies. Everything is becoming more and more interesting. I never thought I would care about alien species, or covalent bonds, and I definitely never expected to think twice about the political problems in Argentina. Oh, and meningitis, that's one of those things I never thought about until class. I never second guessed any of the word choices of Voltaire or Victor Hugo, but I am beginning to see that there is soooo much more to life that thinking about the crappy situation we endure during our teenage years. And it truly does freak me out when I find myself surfing the web, looking for further information on the uneven distribution of food throughout the world's populations. But there is some pleasure in all of this, which definitely helps counter the constant criticism and scrutiny we put up with from everyone around us.

The choice truly is yours to make. These can really be the best years of your life, or they can be the years from hell.

Disclaimer: a few days ago, I wrote that the original prom theme this year was The Thirties. Melissa, a member of the prom committee, informed me that this was incorrect info. So, I withdraw that statement, I heard that from a teacher (coughcoughmr.grundencough) and from quite a few seniors, but still, I was the one who published it. So to Melissa, and all the other people on the prom committee, I apologize for publishing my misinformation.

WOO-HOO! I was offered the opportunity to be manager of the basketball team. You see, I was absent the two weeks leading up to tryouts, the week of tryouts, and the week after tryouts, but I talked to the coach and she said that she would love it if I served as manager. This is definitely not as great as being on the team truly, but it is definitely the next best thing. (Oh, yes, Cati Barham, I AM NOT NOT NOT NOT "hopeless when it comes to basketball." SO THERE! j/k)

There is nothing new to report, but I have returned to school. I was out for roughly 20 days, (though my APES teacher, Mr. Boyer thought I was only out for 2 ----hmmmm. . . you figure that one out!) and I have SOOOOO much work to do! Lol. But they are really taking time to help me get caught up. Oh how I love my school.

I have a storybook due in AP Env. Sci. on Monday, and just got told that I was expected to do the assignment on Thursday, the day after I returned to school. Needless to say, if you know how to make figures pop up on a page, or other cool tangible aspects I can include in my "wetland story" then please please tell me how to do it. I also thought it might be cool to do a book that is HUGE. I mean like half-a-piece-of-posterboard huge, or I could do a regular size book. What do yall think??? I need to go study for chemisty.

The paradox of our time in history is that
we have taller buildings but shorter tempers,
wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less,
we buy more, but enjoy less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families,
more conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees but less sense,
more knowledge, but less judgment,
more experts, yet more problems,
more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much,
spend too recklessly, laugh too little,
drive too fast, get too angry,
stay up too late, get up too tired,
read too little, watch TV too much,
and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life.
We've added years to life not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back,
but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.
We conquered outer space but not inner space.
We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.
We write more, but learn less.
We plan more, but accomplish less.
We've learned to rush, but not to wait.
We build more computers to hold more information,
to produce more copies than ever,
but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion,
big men and small character,
steep profits and shallow relationships.
These are the days of two incomes but more divorce,
fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers,
throwaway morality, one night stands,
and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

Hmmm. . .time for a change. I think I will change this world we are living in!!!!

"Gonna change the world, gonna make it right, gonna get down on my knees tonight.
Gonna change it all, gonna find a way, gonna start to CHANGE THE WORLD today.
When something is wrong, only we can turn it around. So give me your hand, my brother
and walk together, 'cause we've got a mountain to climb!" -S CLUB 7

From the Cosby Show:
[Pam and Charmaigne, who is Pam's friend are studying for an American History Test]

Charmaigne: What are the three branches of government and what are their roles?

Pam: The legislative branch, and they make the laws. The judicial branch, and they interpret the laws, and the executive branch, and they-

Charlamaigne: break the laws.


OH HOW TRUE!

I got this off my friend's profile:
"It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for something you're not." -Unknown
Ain't it da truth!?!?!? BE YOURSELF! (ever seen Aladdin when the Genie turns into a bee and says "Beeee yourself"???? <--- see! Even Disney agrees that ya gotta stay true to yourself!)


Here are the lyrics to one of my favorite Clay songs:
"Measure of a Man"


If one day you discovered him
broken down; he'd lost everything
No cars, no fancy clothes
to make him who he's not
The woman at his side
is all that he has got
Why do you ask him Heaven and Earth
To prove his love has worth?

Would he walk on water
would he run through fire
Would he stand for you
when it's down to the wire
Would he give his life up
to be all he can
Is that- is that- is that
How you measure a man?

If by chance,
all he had to give you
was three words
wrapped around your finger
Would that be deep enough
at the end of every day
and how will you ever know
if a man is what he says
Why do you ask him Heaven and Earth
to prove his love has worth?

Would he walk on water
would he run through fire
Would he stand for you
when it's down to the wire
Would he give his life up
to be all he can
Is that- is that- is that
How you measure a man?

He never gives up,
lets go of his dreams
his world goes around
but his one true belief
Is that how you know?
Is that what it means?

Would he walk on water?
Would he run through fire?
Would he stand for you

Would he be your anger
when the dark unfolds?
Will he ALWAYS love you
the best that he knows?
Would he give his life up
to be all he can?
Is that- is that- is that
How you measure a man

Would he walk on water
would he run through fire
Would he stand for you
when it's down to the wire
Would he give his life up
to be all he can
Is that- is that- is that
How you measure
Oh-oh
Is that- is that- is that
How you measure a man. . .?

Well, the competition I so looked forward to this weekend at the fair is no longer an option. I cannot go because I am still sick, but there shall be other competitions and a plethora of other opportunities to engage in. I hope ya'll are having a great week. We just moved from our old house to a smaller, rental house, that I LOVE! It's hard being fifteen and suddenly downsizing, but it was so totally worth it!! We don't have roadrunner yet, so I can't get on my original screen name(s) but I have been able to hook my laptop up to the phone jacks and get on my 6 month free trial of AOL, so my new (6 month available) screen name is
Dancechic2287

(that's it. Do NOT pronounce it dance"chick", it is dance "CHIC"!!! lol. just kidding, whatever!) anyways, i hope all of you are having a really good week, and if you need anything, let me know. Also, if you go to my school, and happen to pass by a member of the cross country team in the hall, wish them luck, please, for their regional race on saturday!!!

LORD, I AM WILLING TO RECEIVE WHAT YOU GIVE.
LORD, I AM WILLING TO LACK WHAT YOU WITHHOLD.
LORD, I AM WILLING TO RELINQUISH WHAT YOU TAKE.
LORD, I AM WILLING TO SUFFER WHAT YOU INFLICT.
LORD, I AM WILLING TO BE WHAT YOU REQUIRE.....
WHATEVER IT TAKES, WHATEVER THE COST!

"This may not be the best of all possible worlds, but it is the world of the best possibilities!"

"Life is only sad and boring when we cease laughing."

"I wish that I could promise that the ride won't be bumpy, and that you won't have to hold on at times, but if you do, I can promise that the result will be completely worth it. So hang on!"

"He who can laugh at himself shall never cease to be amused."

"You can't dwell on what was and what has been, because history has proven that we can't change the past. Keep your eyes focused on making the future brighter!"

"Be the change you want to see in the world!"

"What we do in life echoes into eternity."

"There's a hole in the world tonight.
There's a cloud of fear and sorrow.
There's a hole in the world tonight.
Don't let there be a hole in the world tommorow."
~The Eagles (::BIG grin::)

Alright, I decided it was time for change!

*In the voice Dr. Humble uses to speak into the "P-A system" (if it can even be called that!)* "That is all!"

::big grin!::

Today in publications:

"Dr. Busonik, haven't I already told you that I CANNOT be twarted, even by hurricanes!"
He finds this amusing. "Well," I continue, "I can't."

Later, he is trying desperately to find someone who will be graphics editor for the second issue.
"Anyone willing to?" he asks for like the gazillionth time.
"I will," I tell him.
"Ummm. . .anyone?"
"Hello? I will."
"No, you are already web editor for this issue."
"Yes, but I can do both."
"Does anyone want to be graphics editor?" he asks again.
"I vote for Lindsay," I tell him
"I second that" comes another student's response.
After an agonizing five minutes and an unsuccessful attempt to con someone else into taking on the ardurous position, he gives in.
"Alright, Lindsay, you can be both."
I smile, "Thank you."
Another five seconds, and I continue "By the way, sir, I told you I could NOT be thwarted!"
"You know," says Mickella, "Now that you've given into her once, she will expect it all year."
Dr Busonik smiles and says, "Yes, I know, but you have no idea how amuzing it is to see her beg, and get turned down, and beg somemore. It is oh so much fun!"
Lol. THE END.

Alright, hey everybody. I don't know how many of you ppl still read this, but for anyone who does, I want to share about my weekend with you.
It was a truly life-altering weekend. We learned about living life.
The prompt of the weekend, and the inspiration for three sessions, was "A LIFE TRULY LIVED IS A LIFE. . ."

-A life with meaning/purpose
-A life given
-A life received

I am not, however, going to sit here and preach to you. I do want to tell you, though, that YOUR life is special to God, and YOU were worth Jesus's sacfice on the cross.

One of the things I have struggled a lot with in the past two years is the question one of my pastor's posed during a sermon. "Is the life you're living worth Christ dying for?" I went to bed many a night, crying because I didn't feel like a) my life was worth ANYONE dying for, especially the Son of God, and b) that I was unworthy of this incredible sacrifice. [Note: This DOES NOT mean that I think I should be PERFECT in any way, because only Jesus was, and ever will be.] I wanted to live a life that was worth what Jesus endured on the cross, but I didn't believe that I was worth it or that I was even slightly capable of living one that was worth that.

Well, this retreat changed my entire outlook. I am worthy of the sacrifice, which is part of the receiving thing. I have to be able to receive with an open heart, and to graciously accept what He did for/gave me. It's hard to fathom that I, a child, who does so much wrong, and isn't perfect is worth the crucifixtion of the Son of God, but it's true.

I also learned that everyone has a purpose in life, be it music, charitable work, etc, but all are equally important. We all need to use what gifts and abilities God gave us to live a meaningful life. However, we also discussed, that, (take me for example), my purpose right now might be to glorify God through dance, while 20 years down the road, it may be in another area (ie medicine, teaching, etc), and we have to be open to the changes God has for us in our purpose.

A life truly lived is a life given. When Jesus died, He gave us a promise that if we accepted and believe in Him, that we would have eternal life (John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall NOT perish but have everlasting life."), and He gave us mercy and forgiveness, and unconditional love, and hope.

Alright, now about the rest of the retreat:
Friday: Got on the bus around 6, left and drove up to Camp Hanes (affiliate of the YMCA).
Once there, we unpacked, and then went to a short meeting, about general rules (ie: NO PURPLE!!! ---this is kinda an inside joke at retreats: Girls' cabins have pink steps, and the guys' cabins have blue steps. If a girl steps on a guys' porch, the porch becomes PURPLE, and vice versa for the guys. THERE IS NO PURPLE!!!! *wink*)
Then we played trainwreck (not cool if you have a torn ligament), and mafia (*yawn*) Then it was time for beddy-by. Lights were supposed to be out at 11, but being that we are girls and LOVE To talk and giggle until all hours, it was, well, let's just say LATE!!!! by the time we turned out the lights! My youth leader Leslie and I got up at 6 to go run (yeah, it was kinda stupid, because on a mountain, you don't run up and down consistently. You run up until you feel like your legs are gonna fall off, then you run down and keep sliding on the rocks!!!!) and we got back to the cabin about seven, which is when we woke everyone else up, and then it was a mad dash! 20 girls and 8 leaders, all scrambling to use one of the three showers BEFORE the hot water ran out!!!!! Not cool. Then my youth leader Lexi (not to be confused with Leslie) fixed my hair before breakfast, cause with a torn ligament in my elbow, fixing hair is just the slightest bit, well, DIFFICULT! Then breakfast, then individual devotionals, then our first true group session. Then lunch, then 4 hours of free time. It would have been nice if I could have canoed, (but again the arm prevents that), or climbed the rock wall (stupid arm), or swam (why did i have to tear the ligament anyway?), but I went about half way up the mountain, and then down again. Lol. (Cam, that was SUPER FUN!) Then Lexi re-did my hair cause it was falling out. Then dinner. Then group-session number two. Then a half our of time in the gym, to play crab tag or somethin. Then Aladdin. (Lexi and Allison, both youth leaders, decided it would be funny to sing ALL the songs with the movie. SHEESH. College kids have NO LIFE!) Then bed time, and again we didn't turn the lights out in time. oh Well. Lights went on at 7 am, and no we didn't run on Sunday cause it was freakin cold and rainy, and we were a little sore from a hike up and a run up the mountain!!!! haha Another mad dash for the showers, then breakfast. Then pictures, then group session number 3. Then packing up and getting ready to go home. Then lunch, and then on the buses to go home.

Funny quotes, though you probably had to be there:
"Huh? What? I can't hear because Cameron kicked my ear, and now I can't hear." -Eric
"Do you mind if I throw ice cold water all over you?"-Some kid who thinks I would ENJOY that!!! (w/e)
"Cameron, where'd you put my salad?" -Me cause Cam kept stealing my salad while I was eating my sandwich!!!
"Don't put bumps in my hair, Lexi. I don't like bumps. . . Are you SURE they're even? Because they need to be even, and the ribbons have to be the same size too." -Me while Lexi was fixing my hair, because she was putting these little pig-tail bun things on the side of my head, and I wanted them to be neat and even with NO BUMPS!) Her response:
"Beggars can't be choosers!" -Lex
Hahahaha. Needless to say, it was an awesome trip. THere are more fun stories to come, but I really should do something productive right now, (NOT that any of you made it all the way through this!!!!!) lol

School, and doctor and dance tomorrow.
And court on Tuesday (not that I have a choice in the matter of going, but I really really really really really really really really would rather talk to a judge in chambers instead of standing up infront of my dad, mom, and all these other people and telling them about EVERYTHING that has happened in my life over the last four years. Geeze. Anyway, I won't complain. No one likes whiners, and I don't want to be one. (the weird thing is that they are NOT fighting over me, cause my dad has basically said "Yeah, I don't think it is working out for us to see each other. . ."-sounds like a boyfriend doesn't it? and to think. .. .. . anyway, they are only fighting over my sister, but they don't want to tear her apart by having her testify, and really, if I can keep her from having to, I will. I don't want her to have to, cause it is really hard and it truly does tear you apart.) anway, enough ranting.

Later everyone. If you have ANY questions about anything I posted, then let me know and I will answer them!!!! (I don't want to be preach-y but I know that not all of that made sense and I am trying to type rapidly and finish, but if you need more info about stuff, let me know and I will gladly accomodate you.)

LORD, I AM WILLING TO RECEIVE WHAT YOU GIVE.
LORD, I AM WILLING TO LACK WHAT YOU WITHHOLD.
LORD, I AM WILLING TO RELINQUISH WHAT YOU TAKE.
LORD, I AM WILLING TO SUFFER WHAT YOU INFLICT.
LORD, I AM WILLING TO BE WHAT YOU REQUIRE.....
WHATEVER IT TAKES, WHATEVER THE COST!

Alright. . .allow me some time to rant real quick.

I was looking at cards in the drug store the other day, just sifting through them, mostly because I am interested in what spawns card ideas. I came across this one, and what it said really bothered me.

On the front it said, "EVERYTHING IS FATTENING."

On the inside it said, "BAD NEWS FOR PEOPLE WHO EAT!"

Had it had some inspiring message at the end, I might have been more "ok" with it, but that was ALL it said. What is America coming to that we think that is, well, funny/good/etc. Geeze. anyway, had to get that out of my system.

I had a splendid time in dance tonight! (lol- most of you know me well enough to know that I would say that dance is my entire life, and still it is the bane of my existence.) anyway, I LOVE MY ADVANCED HIP HOP CLASS, (dont get me wrong, I LOVE IT ALL, and hate it all at the same time, but hip hop makes me laugh) Anyways, there are six other girls (ranging in age from 15 to 17) in the class, and today we were doing shoulder spilts, which i guess I should attempt to explain. Shoulder splits are where you sit up, then roll back, onto your back/shoulder (yes, only ONE shoulder) and do a split in the air. So we all laughed hysterically because we kept saying and doing funny things.
Nikki, for instance said (and remember she is in her shoulder split during this, so she is kinda having a hard time getting it out because her face is smushed into the ground.) "Ummm, I think I'm stuck."
Now why that sends seven teenage girls into fits of uncontrollable laughter, I cannot explain, but it did, and we spent the rest of the night, working on our dance, and attempting to muffle our constant giggles.

Now I need to tell you about my laptop/file cabinet adventure!
(First, I worked ALL summer and saved enough to buy my own laptop.)
Well, we had a project thing to do in health today, and my group wanted me to bring in my laptop, so I agreed. After class (thats my first class), Ms. Talley, my health teacher said I could leave it in her file cabinet, where she keeps her purse. I watched as she locked up the cabinet drawer. So after school, I come back to get it, and GUESS WHAT!?!?!?! She can't find her keys. We deduce that she must have accidentally locked them in the drawer too. So the two of us wander around school trying to find another teacher with a file cabinet that has the same lock code as hers. Well, wouldn't you know it! I think a total of two other teachers in the school had file cabinets that even locked! So she sends me to ask Ms. Atkinson for her plethera of keys, which she is happy to give us. We try all of them (there a bajillion!), and none of them work. So Ms. Koch tells us that Mr. Boyer can break open a file cabinet, but it will no longer be able to open. So Ms. talley tells me to go give the keys back to Ms. Atkinson, and to go find Mr. Boyer. Well, I do this, and when I get back, I find Ms. Talley practically praising Mr. Grant. (If you dont go to my school, then you don't know what a funny and strange sight this is), and Ms. Talley says "Lins, Mr. Grant just jerked the drawer really hard and it came right open!!" Anyways, my laptop and Ms. talley's keys and purse are safe. That was enough drama for one day!

So today, Maggie, who is on the yearbook staff, interviewed me about track last year.

I was telling my health teacher (Mrs. Talley) later, about the interview.
Here is the ensuing conversation:

"Mrs. Talley!!!! Guess what!?!?! I got interviewed for the yearbook."

"Wow! Cool. what was it about?"

"I had to give them five adjectives to describe Mr. Grant as track coach." (All this was said with a broad smile on my face)

"Oh, dear god. What did you say?"(she said this while rolling her eyes, and laughing to herself)

"Hmmm, I said:
*fashionably challenged (this was because he wore knee socks pulled up to his knees, a parka, a sweat band, and grey cotton shorts)
*Stubborn
*slave-drive
*hairy
*moody
(and my other one was that he is obsessed with his Mazda Miata, but that one got left out cause I liked the other five better.)

So, yeah, I thought that was fun and enjoyable. ;)

In other news:
I had my first cross country practice in six weeks. Due to an injury to my sheath tendon, I have not run for nearly 45 days! Anyway, I enjoyed being out running again, but other than that, I will say nothing else about how practice went. . .

Dance: UGH. Long and tiring. Tap, jazz and hiphop. I don't think I was the best teacher tonight, but I think its ok, but I had the worst headache, and I was nauseous.

Anyway, I need to go occupy myself. *goofy, but sweet grin* (with a halo over my head)

here's more from my youth leader. This is her profile:

"The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become - because He made us. . . . It is when I turn to Christ, when I give myself up to His personality, that I first begin to have a real personality of my own." ~C.S. Lewis~

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18~

Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. ~Romans 5:3-5~


Alright, I, at least, am inspired by her courage and attitude to take this all in stride. More later.

People should re-think the saying, "why me?" Why NOT me?

"God has a purpose for every problem; He uses problems to draw you closer to Him."

"You'll never know that God is all you need until God is all you've got."

I got this off my youth leader's away message. She recently hurt her knee so bad that she can no longer play rugby at UNC and it could take months more for her to heal. I had to share this, because it's so true. She isn't wallowing in self-pity, but she's trying to look at the bright side of the situation. This has truly changed the way I look at my life, and I hope it makes a difference in how you feel too. (I know, this sounds like a mushy, school-day presentation, but it's true, and we can all take a lesson from my youth leader's attitude!!!!

This is SO TRUE!!!!!

I AM THANKFUL

FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.


FOR THE TAXES
THAT I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT
I AM EMPLOYED.


FOR THE CLOTHES
THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW
THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE.

FOR A LAWN
THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTT ERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT
WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND THAT I HAVE BEEN
BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY
BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
THAT SINGS OFF KEY
BECAUSE IT MEANS
THAT I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE
OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS
AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE BEEN
CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM
THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I AM ALIVE.

Thought these might inspire y'all. Enjoy.

“When life becomes overwhelming, go to a small quiet corner of your mind and remember happier times.”

“Hope is as essential to the soul as oxygen is to the body.”

“The stars shine brightest in the darkest night.”

“Treat your memories like a movie reel: rewind and savor the good scenes; speed through those that caused you pain.”

“Step by gentle step, you can overcome the greatest sorrow.”

“If life hands you a bitter pill, it may turn out to be the very medicine that will make you strong.”

“We do not remember days, we remember moments.”

“She takes my hand and leads me along paths I would not have dared explore alone.”

“No winter lasts forever, no spring skips its turn.”

“But you be strong and do not lose courage for there is reward for your work.”

“We cannot tell what may happen to us in the strange medley of life. But we can decide what happens in us, how we take it, what we do with it — and that is what really counts in the end.”

“We all need each other.”

“The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved.”

“When love beckons you, follow him though his ways are hard and steep.”

“Love doesn’t make the world go around. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.”

Disclaimer Ok, it has been brought to my attention that I left Clay Aiken and Mark out of the shoutouts. My apologies to both.

Mark: Long time no talk. How are you? You haven't blogged in a while so I am assuming you must be busy. Have a good week!

Clay Aiken: I feel stupid writing this because you are not actually reading my blog, it is my dorky friends pretending to be you!!! lol, anyway, Love your music. :) Later.


Now onto some real blog-erish stuff (cool "lindsay-ism" huh!?!?!?)

Alright,
I WANNA CHANGE THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really really wanna make a difference. I wanna cure cancer and AIDS, and I wanna make everybody happy and healthy. I know, it sounds stupid, but I do. I can't help it. I have this pathetic idea that I might actually be capable of doing something worthwhile in this life.
Sorry, I had to get that out of my system.

I LOVE HEALTH! Ms. Talley has a really cool system for how to structure class. We do 4 weeks of seat-work and learning, then we play sports or something of the like for two weeks. Last week we played Ultimate Frisbee for 4 days!!!! I ran and jumped in all the mud puddles (Ms. Atkinson is the one who can vouch that I love to do that ;) ) and I slid and dove to catch the frisbee. Most of the girls just stood in the middle of the field and talked. What's up with dat????? Anyway, this week is gonna rock my socks off! (We're PLAYING SOCCER!!!!!) It doesn't get much better than this!

Later days

It is way time to do some shout outs, here goes. . . [Note: I do not know who all reads this, so I am making assumptions, so if I miss your name, let me know in the chatter box or somethin'!)

Bernie: Hey girl! Long time NO SEE! I am glad you are reading this. I miss eighth grade with you so much! Remember "beeeeker" and "alTso?" Do you remember "turtle lady?" Haha. THat was an awesome year! We def need to have a lunch bunch reunion soon!

Laura: I know you remember "beeeeker" and turtle lady and "alTso!" I am glad you came to RCHS! I like having class with you :), and the way Mr. Grunden does tests ROCKS! I am not so sure about math. . . lol.

Lucas: I am very surprised you take the time to read this lol. I like your blog, very good job on it. Isn't English a blast!?!?!?!? lol. UGH! I miss all of the debates you and Will and Andrew had in World Civ last year. I guess that's what I get for taking something instead of GOPO, huh?

Josh: Remember: Follow your heart, it will never lead you astray. And be honest, forever with yourself and others, they will like you all the more because of it. It has been great getting to know you this year, and I hope we can continue that!

Cameron: My lil sis! (lol, to all of the rest of you, she's not really, but we act like it cause I am always giving her big-sisterly advice!). Keep your head up, and don't let other people push you around, and if they do, "turn the other cheek." DO NOT push back!!!! You are incredible, so keep it up! All my love, Your big sis!

Elizabeth #1 and #2: Health is AWESOME this year, guys! I really enjoyed throwing the frisbee with yall! You guys are so funny and always make me smile! Thanks for being such awesome friends!

Nicole: OMG. It feels like an eternity since I last saw you. You know how awesome I think you are, and thanks for everything you've done for me. You have no idea how much it means to me. All my love!

Ms. Atkinson/Coach K: Long time no see! I miss you tons, and keep updating your blog, because I do read it, and I hate it went you haven't posted in a while. Hope everything in Kellyland is splendid! And . . .KILL THE HILLS!

It is like way early in the morning, but I feel I should give you guys an update on Jennie, (at least, I know that Colbern wants to know---lol) Alright, she is in the hospital and they have NO idea what is causing her lack of breathing ability. It could be lung cancer, emphezema (sp?), allergies, wheat inhalation, and a whole bunch of other weird things that I can't describe. My mom and I (my sister is living elsewhere at this time, a place that I want to go) visit Jennie twice a day, and she is on 5 liters of O2. They are doing a biopsy tomorrow, to rule out cancer. The doctors are not thinking it is life-threatening but they don't like the fact that she can't go for 15 minutes with out her oxygen tubes. She has that thingy that hooks into your nose, and she can hardly talk because it uses up so much oxygen. But, yes, Colbern, (thanks for asking), Jennie, they said, will be fine, but we aren't sure what she has yet. They are also looking at the possibility of TB, pneumonia, and one other common coughing thingy, but they have ruled out TB. Pneumonia is still a possibility, but this has been going on since May (having trouble with the respiratory system), and my personal opinion, considering that she has been to various doctors at least 10 times since then, is that SOMEONE would have found pneumonia by now. Anyways, I gotta get to bed.
My weekend was nothing worth writing about, but school starts again tomorrow, which is good, I HOPE.
All my love to everyone. Smile.

"No llores porque ya terminando; Sonries porque aconteció."

"Pas le cri parce que c'est par-dessus; le sourire parce qu'il est arrivé."

"Weinen Sie nicht, weil es über ist; Lächeln, weil es geschehen ist."

Anyone recognize this quote? ;)

Later days.

Hmmmm. . . I am not quite sure what to write. . .

Ok, well the last few days have been, well. . . let's just say, Interesting.
I'll start with Wednesday: Nothing exciting. Doctor's appointment, at which I found out some very, well scary things, but not necessarily about Me, in particular. Anyways, then I had dance. . .LOOOOONNNNNGGGG three hours, to put it mildly! First, tap. (UGH, but fun nonetheless). Then I had clogging. We are going to compete at the State Fair, so all you lovely people need to come watch! (and if you are not a "lovely" person, then, well, come anyway!!!!!!) Then, I had modern, which was long and tiring. But totally worth it.
Thursday was my first day back at Cross Country after my foot injury. We had an easy day, or at least everyone else had an easy day. I hurt my foot because I guess I restarted running too early. Anyways, what we did was we ran from school to Fletcher Park, and I somehow ended up running by myself between the guys and the girls. The guys were running at a fairly fast pace, and for some reason my adrenaline was pumping and I started running with them. However, I did not realize that we were WAY ahead of the girls. After a while, I fell back a little, but still couldn't see the girls, which is fine except that I didn't know where Fletcher was. I had a pretty good idea but I wasn't sure, and downtown Raleigh, as a fifteen year old girl, ALONE, is NOT a smart idea in any way shape or form. My foot hurt most of the way there, but I attributed the immense pain to the lack of running in three weeks, but while we played Ultimate Frisbee, I realized that it was more than just soreness. Jordan told me I should sit down and rest my foot, so I complied. A few minutes later, he came over and asked how I planned to get back to the school. "Run," I said. He shook his head and said, "Uh. . .No, I don't think soooooo." Then he told me that he and dane would run back and get his car and drive back and pick me up. I told him that it was ok, and that he should keep playing, and that my foot didn't hurt that much, but he declined. "Nope, I am gonna run and get my car. I'll be back in a few minutes." I was quite flattered, because he gave up playing a frisbee game to run back to school, get his car, and drive ME back to school, so I wouldn't hurt my foot. I must say that it was a kind gesture, one of complete selflessness. We need more people in the world who are unconcerned about their wants and needs, and instead give without an expectation of anything in return. Then I was off to gymnastics, yes I know I shouldn't have done it on my foot, but we have competitions soon, and I needed to practice, so after two hours of dive rolls, carwheels, hand stands, hand stand rolls, hand stand pushups, back walk overs, back hand springs and roundoffs, I finally got to go home and rest. I desperately needed rest because I have been feeling really weak the last few days/week. It's like my whole body is deprived of something and thus cannot produce energy, and it is making everything hard. It's hard to pick stuff up, to walk, etc, but I suppose life goes on. I just feel weak though, and I wonder if something my body needs is missing. . .oh well.
Today was Flex Day at school, and I did an activity called "Great Disasters" where we built a bridge out of 120 popsicle sticks and glue ( no offense to the teachers, but this is the OLDEST activity in the history of schools!!!!!) My second activity was in chemistry. We did QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS, which I found spectacularly fun. :) I really enjoyed it! I also learned a few things from observations of other people:
1. Baking soda makes black material look weird, and I mean weird.
2. Communication is the key to anything in the scientific field; and when I say "communication" I do NOT mean something like some of the things I heard today like, "Wanna take dis outside, b****?" [Oh, and yes, that was said to me, by someone who had no reason to say it, but hey, it's only words, RIGHT!?]
3. Iodine is reddish. It can TURN blue. The blue solution in the container is NOT iodine. It is bermythymal (sp?) blue, NOT IODINE. I repeat: NOT IODINE!!!! They do not do the same things!
4. If you ask Mr. Grant a question, he will give you one of two answers: a)something stupid and unrelated or b)this "I defer all questions to the athletic director." However, If you ask Mr. Grunden a question, you get a full-out, involved, very clear, answer. Lol. [I am not taking sides here. They are both awesome, in their own ways!]
5. The rubber connector on the faucet is NOT (and I mean NOT) there so that you can stick it inside a test tube and turn the water on high power.
6. If you try hard, and put them in the right places, you can fit 6 pairs of goggles on your head (and I am not talking about putting them one on top of the other, I mean, spreading them out on your head.)

That was the extent of my day! I ate lunch alone, but that's ok, I got to do some writing, which is always good.
Also, Jennie, my mom's friend is in the hospital because her oxygen level is too low (it should be like 95, but her's is 80 or something low like that.)
Well, I gots to go, but have a super week, everyone. Smile. :)

Alright: How do I sum up my week?


SUCKY, but I suppose things could be worse.


Well, we sold my sister's bed and so I have been sleeping on the floor for the last 4 nights, while she sleeps in my bed. (go figure!) Then, my dad calls my house, talks to my sister, so I get to hear one end of the conversation (this is how it ends):

"Yes. . . . . Do you wanna talk to Lindsay?"
[Long pause, and then an exasperated sigh]
"Oh. . .ok. Alright, love you too. Bye."

My reaction:
"Sherby, what happened?"
"What do ya mean?"
"Why can't I talk to dad?"
"He ummm. . .well. . .he ummmm. . ." (she tries to figure out how to protect him) "He had something else to do."
"He had to do it right then and he couldn't even talk to me? C'mon sherb, shoot straight with me."
She looks down, an obvious sign she is lying, and says, " Well, ok, he said he didn't want to talk to you."
"Did he say why?"
"No. He didn't. Lindsay, get over it. Maybe he just doesn't love you anymore, and if he does then he has stopped caring," she gets up and storms out the door.

Then, today, (Friday), I had the following stuff at school:
7th pd -Health (which at my school comes first): TEST
1st pd - APES: Quiz
2nd pd. -Enr. Chem Quiz
3rd pd. -Enr. Eng. Quiz
4th pd. Publications TEST
and I also had a paper due third period. Okay, do I get to have a life or not? So yeah, I have a very sore back, from gymnastics and dance and the floor of my house, and I am so stressed out. NOT TO MENTION: that my mom had a court date with my dad today and the judge denied one of her motions (motion for contempt), and upheld her other motion (motion to compell), and they never got to his motion (motion for contempt). So they have another court date set for Tuesday, and guess what! (this really pissed me off, excuse my language.) They want to call me as a witness. They want me to get up on the stand in front of him, his lawyer, my mom, the judge, etc, and tell them why I am not going to my dads when I am supposed to. (Now, any idiot can answer that: DUH. Can you people not see how he treats me, and his wife is even worse. And besides. He kicked me out of his house in the first place, so I can't very well invite myself back, now can I?)

This is a side-note to the chapter that was published in my previous post. For some odd reason, Blogger.com does not allow me to copy and paste anything with tabs, as it will not keep the tabs. So, sorry for the confusion. MUCH LOVE!

Well, "anonymous" asked for the next chapter, which is a flash back to the days just before ninth grade. I am not sure, but I don't know that it is very good. . .hmmmm.


Here goes. (and no laughing!!!! :P )



Chapter 2

I rolled over; the illuminating red numbers on my alarm clock read 1:03 AM. Swimmer’s ear had plagued the last precious days of my summer vacation. It was Friday night, or rather, Saturday morning, and school started Monday. The pain in my right ear was growing worse by the minute, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could bare the throbbing ache that kept me up that night. I sighed and bit my lip, trying to concentrate on anything but the pain. I began to count backwards from one thousand in Spanish, a task that usually helped me sleep, but tonight, it failed miserably. Reluctantly, but with no other option as the pain steadily increased, I climbed out of bed. I felt my way helplessly through the darkness upstairs to my dad’s room. I felt along the walls, gliding my left hand along their smooth surface, while keeping my right hand over my ear, as though I thought it would ease the pain. “Dad,” I whispered, close to tears now because of how much worse my ear felt than it had only minutes before. “I can’t sleep. My ear really, really hurts. I already took pain reliever, but its not helping.”
“What time is it?” came his groggy response.
“About one in the morning,” I said, wondering if he had any idea what kind of pain this was.
“Can’t you wait till eight when urgent care opens?” he said, pleadingly.
“But daddy,” I said using my little girl voice, “it really hurts. I mean, it really hurts, really bad. Please do something,” I pleaded with him. He climbed out of bed and followed me back downstairs, through the darkness, and into my bedroom. By this time I was whimpering helplessly, as though I thought that the sound would make the pain cease. Surprise, surprise, it didn’t! After ten agonizing minutes of my father trying to calm me down, and me trying to convince him of how much it hurt, he gave up and said, “Do you need to go to the emergency room? I hate to take you because I think you can wait until eight, but if you really need to go, we can. Just remember that we’ll probably have to wait for a few hours after we get there because an ear ache certainly isn’t at the top of the priority list in a hospital.” I nodded, and we woke my sister up. We got dressed, and put on jackets because even though it was August, the night air was crisp.
Four hours (and a dose of morpheme) later, I was back in bed, and on my way to being asleep. The emergency room doctor had put a “wick,” which is basically a sponge-type material, into my ear, to hold open the canal. That way, the ear drops would definitely reach the infection. I needed sleep. I was starting high school on Monday, and now, I would be starting a new school with a piece of white sponge sticking out of my right ear!
Earlier that day, I had been taken off the waiting list and offered a spot at a small school. I was originally supposed to attend a big magnet school, with a student population of nearly three thousand. The opportunity to attend a school with fewer than five hundred students was well received on my end. There was just one problem. All my friends were going to the big school, except for one friend. Maria had been accepted also and after about two hours of deliberation, weighing and re-weighing the pros and cons, we both decided that this school would be a good place for us to spend our high school years.
Now, as I dozed off, dreaming of my freshman year of high school, all my worries and fears of high school and of being away from my circle of friends slowly disappeared with the approach of sleep. It was Saturday; I was going to be at a much smaller school for the next four years; my ear was feeling better, and I was finally able to get some rest.
The sun slowly crept through the blinds that hung on my windows. I rolled over, trying to get in a position where my ability to snooze for a while for not dictated by the rising sun. I groaned and squirmed impatiently in my bed. Why couldn’t the sun wait for me to be ready to wake up? Why did it have to get up so early? I put my pillow over my face, trying desperately to hold it in a position where it covered my eyes so I could rest, but not my nose and mouth, so I could still breathe.
Suddenly, something leapt onto my stomach. “Ow!” I screamed in pain. As if an ear infection wasn’t enough, and a trip to the emergency room early this morning, but now some massive blob was jumping onto my stomach. I took the pillow away from my face and slammed it down on the head of the culprit— my little sister. “Goodness, Anna, can’t you let me sleep?”
“No,” she giggled. What was funny about the pain I was in and how tired I was? “You can’t stay in bed all day,” she said whining, pleading with me to drag myself out of bed and play Polly Pockets with her.
“It’s not all day,” I protested. “It’s,” I rolled over and looked at my digital clock so I could be sure I had the precise time, “seven fifty four in the morning. It is also my second to last day of summer. And in case you forgot, we all spent the night in the emergency room!”
“Because of you,” she said coldly. “You really should get up and play with me, you know, or I’ll. . .”
“Or you’ll what?” I said, unafraid of anything my twelve-year-old sister would threaten.
“Or. . .I won’t ever speak to you again,” she responded defiantly.
“Oh, and how long will that last? Just until you need to borrow money or something.”
“I hate you,” she told me.
“Don’t hate me,” I told her. “You shouldn’t hate anybody,” I told her in my ‘sister-knows-best’ voice. She rolled her eyes, and looked at me again. “It’s true,” I said simply.
“Whatever,” she responded, shrugging my words off.
“But, since I am already wide awake,” I told her in my best imitation of an adult, “and since I love you so much— ”
She cut me off, “Yeah right,” she said sarcastically.
“It’s true,” I protested, “and if you’d let me finish, I was going to say that I am going to get up and play with you now.”
“HOORAY!” She screamed, and began marching around my room, shouting and waving her hands around. I groaned and rolled out of bed, ready for a fun-filled day of entertaining thirteen-year-old Anna.
I rolled my eyes and watched her march out of my room. I closed the door behind her and smiled to myself. As annoying as she can be, I thought, I love her to death, and life would be so boring without her. I snatched a pair of nylon shorts and a long t-shirt, my typical middle-school-tom-boyish attire, and carried them to the bathroom I shared with Anna. I closed the bathroom door and began brushing my teeth before I took my shower.
Suddenly, the door swung open and hit the adjoining wall with a tremendous thud. Anna stood there, grinning, leaning against the doorway, with a hand on her hip. Rolling her eyes, she said to me, “This had better not be one of you long showers,” placing great emphasis on the word long, drawing it out into three syllables. With the toothbrush in my mouth, I managed to grunt out, “Give me enough privacy to take the shower, please.” She grinned and stepped out of the doorway, grabbing the doorknob and closing it quietly behind her.
After my shower, my sister and I played Monopoly and Clue, and then lay on my bed, listening to music. My ear began to ache as the morpheme the hospital prescribed wore off. I put ear drops in my ear, and lay on my side on the couch reading while the drops soaked in. The shrill ring of the phone brought me out of the world created by my book. My sister ran to answer it. “Hello,” she said into the receiver. “Oh hi, mommy.. . . . . . .Yes we’re fine. We went to the emergency room last night. Maria’s ear canal collapsed!” I could hear the sound of my mother’s muffled voice on the other end of the phone. “No, she’s fine. . . . . .No, she can’t talk to you. . . . . . . . . .Why? Because she is lying down on the couch letting the ear drops soak in.” There was a fairly long pause, and then my sister said, “You’re coming at ten thirty tomorrow to pick us up?. . . .Yes, I’ll tell Maria to call you. . . . . . . Okay, Mom. . . .Uh-huh.. . . . Okay. I love you too. Bye.”
My sister stood over me, and she reached down, and knocked on my head as though it was a door. “Can you hear me, sister dear?” I rolled my eyes and laughed.
“Yes,” I said, a bit too loudly, mostly because I couldn’t hear my own voice well enough to judge its volume.
“Mom wants you to call her, okay?” Without waiting for an answer, she raced upstairs to find our father. Within seventy seconds she returned, and said, “Dad wants to know when you will be ready to go out to lunch.”
“Soon. Tell him soon,” I said. “I think the drops are almost completely soaked in. But I want to make sure so my ear doesn’t get more infected.”
“Okay. Well, I am going to go finish getting ready. Need anything?”
“No thanks,” I told her, smiling to myself. My sister, however wild and crazy, has a good heart and cares for other people a lot. I sighed, wishing the drops would hurry up. My legs were starting to cramp. My thoughts turned then to high school. In fewer than forty eight hours, I would be entering the “four best years of your life” as I had been told by countless adults. As many of them had also reminded me, these were also “the four most important years” of my life. So much of me couldn’t wait to start, and yet a part of me hung back, unsure of how prepared I was for this. Would I be smart enough for the teachers not to hate me? Would I be cool enough for my peers to like me? High school was a huge step, something I had really looked forward to, and yet something that I had also dreaded. And now, it was right around the corner. Another step, and I would be totally immersed in the life of a student whose every move was watched by colleges. . . . . . .A huge question lingered. Was I ready?


(there, and any suggestions on what I can add or remove are MORE than welcome!!!, so please, critique away. Constructive critisism is by far a writer's best editing device, with spell check at a close second! j/k)
later days everybody.
God bless.

I don't get it. I just don't get it. Why don't people love you for who you are? Why is the world so cruel? Why are people demeaning to you when you are trying so hard?







This is totally off topic, but I have another question. I went to the movies today with my friend Courtney. In the ladie's room there was writing on one of the walls that said "Bob was here." Ok, so BOB, most likely a man, was in the girls' room????? What a crazy world.

I am going to publish the lyrics to the song I hope to do my solo to this year.

It's called "Don't Cry Out Loud."

Baby cried the day the circus came to town
Cause she didn't want parades just passin' by her
So she painted on a smile and took up
with some clown
While she danced without a net upon the wire
I know a lot about her, because you see
Baby is an awful lot like me

Don't cry out loud
Just keep it inside
Learn how to hide your feelings
Fly high and proud
and if you should fall
Remember you almost had it all

Baby saw that when they pulled that
Big top down
They left behind her dreams among the litter
And the different kind of love
She thought she'd found
There was nothing left but sawdust
and some glitter
But baby can't be broken because you'll see
She had the finest teacher that was me
I told her:

Don't cry out loud
Just keep it inside
Learn how to hide your feelings
Fly high and proud
and if you should fall
Remember you almost had it all


Well, I don't know what I am going to go do, but I hope all of you had better days than I did. Stay strong.

I had a pretty bad day, (other than dance: jazz I, jazz II, and hip hop II.) but I don't want to sound whiny or like a complaining little kid, but it was pretty darn bad. One thing has to do with school, the other with family, and of course, me too. I would post what these things are, BUT there are two problems with this:
1. I do NOT want to sound like I am complaining, because I am soooo blessed.
2. Some stuff that happened should NOT be published for anyone to see.

I suppose I should go now. I am sorry to make all of you listen to my complaining, so I will give you a stupid little thing to do.


tell me what this code is for/of:

qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm

FIGURE THAT OUT!!!!!!!! lol.
maybe I will do shoutouts tomorrow. . .I don't know. God bless, and I hope all of you have a wonderful week.

I think, if you people promise not to laugh, that I will paste the first chapter of my novel here. I want some criticism from many different people, and so I think this is the best way to get it. If you find any parts of it stupid or in need of work in any way, please tell me so I can fix them. Thanks, and I hope you enjoy it!!!!! (by the way, the names are strictly made up, and not based, at least not the first chapter, on any real life events.!!!!)
Well, here goes. . . (and no laughing at the mere stupidity of the content!!!!)


I rolled over in bed, unable to sleep. Whether it was the storm outside our Washington D.C. home, or the snoring of my husband sleeping next to me, I did not know, but I crawled out of bed, anyway. After all, another revision of my speech for tomorrow couldn’t hurt.
Tomorrow was inauguration day; I would become the first female United States President. My digital clock’s red numbers read 2:14am. I rubbed my eyes, and shuffled slowly through the darkened bedroom my husband and I shared. I grappled for the wall as I felt my way down the hall, towards the bedrooms of my children. At the age of 36, I was happily married, with four children. Kelly Michelle, age eight, and Audrey Elizabeth, age 6 were sleeping soundly in the lavender room they shared. I smiled when I noticed that Audrey Elizabeth had gotten down from the top bunk she usually slept on to sleep next to her sister on the bottom bunk. The storm must have scared her, I thought. They were great sisters, even if they had no biological connection at all. My husband and I had adopted Kelly Michelle about seven and a half years ago from Russia, but regardless of blood connections, our family was close and happy together. I continued to move down the hall to the nursery, where my two year old son, Caleb slept, thumb in mouth. Caleb, too, had been adopted, but he was adopted from Chile.
The shrill cry of Tracy Marie sliced through my thoughts. I rushed into the nursery to quiet her before she woke Caleb up. As I lifted her in my arms, Caleb stirred, but rolled over and fell back asleep. Whimpering, Tracy Marie, relaxed a little in my arms. At seven months old, Tracy was the latest addition to our household. We had adopted her right here in D.C., just two weeks after she was born.
I carried her downstairs and warmed a bottle in the microwave. Gently rocking her in my arms, while the microwave droned on in the dim light of the kitchen, her whimpering quieted and she looked up at me. Her blue eyes shone even in the dark night with the rain pelting down on the roof. She reached up and brushed my cheek with her little hand. Beep, beep, beep, beep. I opened the microwave door, trying to make as little noise as possible, and carried Tracy over to the rocking chair in the rec-room. Settling down into the chair, I propped her up in the crook of my left arm. Gently wedging the nipple of the bottle into her small mouth, I handed the bottle to her and let her feed herself. As she sucked contentedly on the bottle, I reached over to the coffee table and picked up one of the many copies of my speech. I had read and reread this at least a thousand times in the last week, but I was too nervous to do anything else.
This was a big step for our country, because finally after repeated tries in past elections, a woman would finally make it to the White House as someone other than First Lady, and the first person to take the step was me. Me. I grew up determined to make a difference; I just never thought that I would make such an impact in the way the political system in our country was viewed. I sighed. Just as my medical career had soared through the clouds, I got appointed to the cabinet for the president, as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. As Secretary of this department, I had made many strides in medical research. The citizens of more than one state encouraged me to run for president. “You care about the common person,” they had told me. “And besides, it’s about time we get someone in there who wasn’t a lawyer or a judge or a legislator.” At the time, I had laughed, but my laughter soon turned into hard work, and then turned to stress-filled days, and finally to triumph.
Tracy Marie finished her bottle, and closed her eyes. Her breathing became deep and her entire body relaxed in my arms. I focused my attention back on my speech. I reached over, trying not to wake the baby by moving around, and picked up a red pen. I began circling, crossing out, and rewriting bits and pieces of my speech. I worked at it for nearly two hours before standing up to un-cramp my legs, and carrying Tracy Marie gently back to the nursery. Laying her in the crib, I watched her sleep for a minute. The lives of my entire family were about to change. You can’t worry about that too much. Jonathan stuck by you through it all, like he promised to, and the kids can adapt. You have got a chance to change the world, and your family is included in that. What more do you want? I smiled. I was so blessed. I walked quietly back downstairs, where I washed out the bottle, and put my speech away. Tip-toeing back to my bedroom, I wasn’t twenty feet away before I heard Jonathan snoring. I shook my head and laughed silently to myself. I crawled back in bed next to my husband. Sighing, I pulled the covers up around my chin. I closed my eyes, wondering, Am I ready for this?

The next morning, we all got up early and ate breakfast together. Cereal for the kids, and cranberry juice for me. I had been up since six that morning when I got up to go for a run. I had run cross country all through high school, and then in college; it was a part of my life that was drilled into my schedule and had become a way for me to relax. I wanted to take the run today, because it would be my last one without secret service around me. After a shower, I had gently awoken my children, and gotten their breakfast ready. Honey Bunches of Oats with Strawberries for Kelly Michelle, and Cornflakes for Audrey Elizabeth. Caleb smiled over his bowl of oatmeal, and Jonathan held Tracy Marie as she fed herself from her bottle. I did the jumbles and the crossword puzzle as I drank my juice. “Gore and Capone (3)”. . . . .Hmmmmm. Three letters. A-L-S! I wrote it down, and continued with the next clue, anything to take my mind off of what would take place in a matter of hours. “Mommy,” Kelly Michelle said to me, “Could we please be excused.”
“Yes you may,” I responded. Kelly Michelle and Audrey Elizabeth got up from the table, and raced upstairs.
Jonathan got up and began loading the dishwasher, while balancing Tracy Marie in one hand. “Mommy, mommy!” Caleb got my attention. “Look at me,” he said, picking up a spoon, making airplane sounds as he “flew” the spoon of oatmeal into his mouth. I smiled. Maybe today wouldn’t be so bad, after all, my family would be there.
“Honey,” I said to Jonathan.
“Hm,” he said, in a way that made me wonder if he was really listening.
“I am going to get the girls dressed. Can you watch Caleb while he finishes his oatmeal?”
“Sure thing,” he turned around as I brought my cup to him. He kissed me, and said, for the zillionth time, “I am so proud of you, and I will always, always, always love you.”
“Ditto,” I said, kissing him back. “Want me to take her?” I said indicating Tracy Marie.
“Here,” he laughed, handing her to me. “I won’t complain if you want her,” and he laughed again. I remember falling in love with his laugh the first time we met. I carried Tracy Marie up the stairs toward the girls’ bedroom. First, though, I went to the nursery for the infant seat. Placing Tracy Marie in it, I then carried it into the girls’ bedroom. I set down the infant seat next to the bunk beds and crossed the room to the closet. I pushed my way to the back of the rack, where the dresses we bought for them were. After finding out I would be president, Jonathan and I went to store after store trying desperately to find something for the girls to wear. I had grown up a tomboy, and would have chosen my soccer uniform over a dress any day. And it turned out that I raised two girls to be the exact same way, without meaning to, of course. Jonathan and I had finally decided on sleeveless white dresses, with embroidered designs towards the bottom to the dress. With a sash in the back, and a lacy collar, and added with them a pair of white dress shoes, with brass buckles, they were perfect. We bought three, so that the three girls would match. It was Jonathan’s idea, and I agreed because I was tired of shopping. I pulled the dresses out of the closet, and handed them to my eager girls. They hurriedly put them on, and Kelly Michelle rushed to the dresser to get out the lace socks we kept for special occasions. Handing a pair to her sister, and keeping the other one in her hands, she turned suddenly to me. Her brown eyes sparkled. “We’re going on an adventure, Mommy. All the people are going to want to meet us and we get to live in the biggest house in the world!” She was grinning from ear to ear. “I can’t wait!” Suddenly, her smile faded. “Can we take Bella and Helen and Pappy with us?” she asked, worry filling her eyes, as she realized that no one had said if our dogs and cat could come with us to our new house.
“Yes, Sweetheart, they are part of the family so they get to come too,” I told her, comfortingly, stroking her long, dark hair. “Okay, guys,” I said quickly, “finish getting ready while I dress Tracy Marie.” The girls continued dressing, and put on their new shoes and got out their sweaters. We had also purchased the light sweaters after I got neurotic about the chilly morning air and its effect on the children. Jonathan had laughed at my worrying, but then after seeing that I truly was concerned, he paid for them too.
I hustled both girls down the hall toward the master bathroom. Carrying Tracy Marie in one hand and hurrying the girls along with the other, we finally reached the bathroom. Kelly Michelle sat down on the ocean-colored tile floor and I let her hold the baby. Keeping an eye on them, I focused a portion of my attention to fixing Audrey Elizabeth’s red hair. I French-braided it and tied a ribbon at the end. Kelly Michelle and Audrey Elizabeth traded places, and I placed the baby in the arms of an eager six-year-old. I fixed Kelly Michelle’s hair the same way. Then I picked Tracy Marie up and put a small white bow in what little hair she had. All three girls sat quietly watching me put on my make-up and fix my hair. Their eyes were wide, and as I applied mascara to my eye lashes, Audrey Elizabeth spoke up, “Mommy do you have to talk to a lot of people today?”
“Yes, ma’am, I do,” I told her. “People voted for me and they want me to tell them what I am going to do to make their lives better.”
“Oh,” she said, and I knew I had lost her interest. “Do we have to take lots of pictures today?” Audrey Elizabeth hated pictures, while her brother and older sister thrived on them.
“Probably,” I said, knowing she wouldn’t like that answer. Jonathan came in the door at that moment, with Caleb, dressed in a white suit with brass buttons. His hair was lying flat on his head, and he was grinning like never before. “Hey sweetie,” I said to Caleb.
“Hi,” Jonathan responded, and laughed.
“Daddy,” Caleb said seriously, “Mommy talking to me, no you.” My husband and I laughed.
“C’mon Caleb and Audrey Elizabeth, let’s go play with a puzzle,” Kelly Michelle said to her siblings. She turned, to me, smiling, “Is that okay, Mommy?”
“Sure thing,” I said to her. As she ran out of the room, I handed the baby to my husband and we walked into our room together.
“We need to go in a few,” he said. Sighing, I smiled and took his hand. We went downstairs to pack the car with snacks and diapers, all the necessities.
The ride to the White House seemed especially long that day. It seemed like we got stopped at all the stop lights, and there was an insane amount of traffic on the road that day. Of course, there were police escorts all around us, trying to ward off any danger that lay between our house and the White House. The military was outside the White House, on the lawn, with cannons and guns. “Oh, no, Mommy. Look, those men have guns. Can we go home?” pleaded a very uncomfortable Audrey Elizabeth.
“It’s okay, sweetie. Those men are good guys. The guns are to protect us. It’s kind of like when people carry guns in a parade back home in North Carolina, remember? Don’t worry. The guns are just there, and they probably won’t even use them.” I told her, attempting to comfort her.
“Okay, Mommy.” She leaned back against the car seat, and sighed. “As long as they’re good guys, then I won’t be scared.”

After being sworn in, I was ready to make my speech, but I was nervous. I had millions of people to serve, who had voted for ME, to represent their interests. I took a deep breath, stepped up to the podium, and exhaled. “Good morning. I grew up dreaming of one day standing before my country and becoming their leader, and I always hoped that one day I would be able to make a speech such as this one. We have a long four years ahead of us. Our economy is declining; the environment is in the worst state it has been in the past decade; and crime is up an astounding thirteen percent. I want to change all of that, but I am going to need your help. . .” as I continued my speech, my mind began to wander; my thoughts turned to the days of my childhood, and of the years I spent learning and growing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .




The idea from here is to go into a flashback of the end of eighth grade, the entire ninth grade year, and maybe some of sophmore year. I will post more later.
Ideas or constructive critisism can be immed to me (you should know my sn) or placed in the chatterbox.


Well, I will not talk about my day because it was rather horrible, and it would just sound like I was being a whiny kid, and that is not the impression I want to give anyone of who I am. But I hope all of you had wonderful days.
God bless.

Okay, so hmmm what do I write about?????

First, I will tell you all the clubs/organizations I joined this week at school! I am gonna be one busy girl!
-Environmental Club (well, that doesn't really count I was in it last year)
-Key Club
-Student Legislative Assembly
-Odyssey of the Mind (OM)
-Editorial Board of the Flame (our school newspaper)
-Melting Pot (a celebration of diversity)
-Ammnesty International
(I think that is it, plus dance, the love of my life; and cross country, and swimming, and track) I am gonna be so incredibly busy. But busy is good; do you ever get that feeling when you are so exhausted from what you've been doing, but the feeling of being totally wiped out is the most fulfilling and gratifying thing EVER!!!!

So then I must tell you something and you can give me advice on it.
Ok, I got a letter, or rather, an invitation in the mail. It is an invitation to spend 20 days in Europe as a part of a student program called People to People. It is about being goodwill ambassadors to the rest of the world. Well, the letter said that I had been nominated by a teacher, but I am not so sure. I don't want to sound cynical but these places can get a list of names from just about anywhere, and maybe that's the only reason I got the letter. I would like to go, however, seeing as how I have NEVER been out of the country (other than when I was 8 months old and I went to Canada, but that doesn't count.) This would let me go to England, Ireland, and Wales for twenty days!!!! But I really don't know about this; if my name was just randomly gotten from some list somewhere, then that means that all the other kids I will be traveling with are from a similar list, right? So, maybe this isn't the kind of program I would like to travel with!?!?! And what teacher would nominate me???? Anyways, if any of you know anything about the program let me know so I know if it is credible and if it is worth me going.

Please indulge me while I vent. Okay, so I have an essay type thing due for AP Environmental Science on Monday. That is all well and good, especially because I love to write. Okay, so we have to write about OUR environmental worldview. FINALLY a worthwhile topic in school. So I started researching on the internet because my teacher wants us to site sources other than Miller's textbook. So I am reading and reading and trying to gain an understanding of how other people view their role in the environment. Though I have already made up my mind as to what the environment means to me, I tried to keep an open mind while reading. That is only fair to those people who think differently than I do. Okay, so here is one of the reasons behind the "Anthropocentric Worldview" (by the way, "anthropocentric" means "human-centered.") Alright, so I am reading and I can kinda sorta (but not really) see where they are coming from on most of the reasons until I reach the one that says, "THERE IS ALWAYS MORE." Yes, my friends, people in this world actually believe that our resources are inexhaustible. Okay, well let's use an example. Let's say. . .the world in sufficiently lacking in paper products, so you cut down all the trees you can find. (I know, you can't imagine that actually happening, and it probably can't in a small amount of time, but it can happen over decades.) Now, how exactly are you going to get more trees. Okay, so you say, well, if we recycle the paper we made from those trees, then why to we need more trees? One word. OXYGEN. I know, this is stretching it a little, but I just don't see how people can ACTUALLY BELIEVE that we have an UNLIMITED amount of resources. That is my rant, and truly I am not usually this mean about stuff, but COME ON. This is unreasonable. Yes, technology is improving but that CANNOT and NEVER will be able to make up for what comes naturally. I just don't get it. Tsk tsk. I don't know what this world is coming to.I only hope that I don't live to see us ruin our planet. IT IS THE ONLY ONE WE HAVE!

"We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect." -Aldo Leopold
As KLA would say, "True dat."

I really do keep an open mind when people think differently, but this is craziness!!!!!

Remember "We NEED the Earth, but the Earth DOES NOT need us!"

God bless, and please ponder this and take it to heart.

So, I had my first day of school yesterday, and let's just say. . .well. . .hmmmm it was not great. Seventh period went well, and I really think I am going to enjoy being in Ms. Talley's class. She is super nice and super funny, with a great sense of humor. (There is only one problem, she has the same face of someone whom I miss terribly, and so there is a twinge of sadness when I am in her class---what is a twinge? I mean, this is serious sadness, but moreover, it is a longing to see this person, not sadness, just missing her terribly.----and that person should know who she is ---- short, dark brown hair, brown eyes, sweet smile, etc) Anyways, health should be fun, I mean it is a combination of a lot of fun physical things, with only one thing missing dance!! So I hobbled around school all day, because as I have come to realize, I have damaged my sheath tendon. A sheath tendon is the covering of the tendon on top of your foot. So I hobbled and limped around school because putting any pressure on this foot was very painful. I was also having a splendid time hopping on my good foot as I went up and down the stairs, what seemed like an endless endeavor. So, the rest of my day went well, I ate lunch in Ms. Talley's room, ALONE. Yes, I know I said that I wouldn't have to eat alone, but I was wrong. Oh well, it gave me time to start my homework. I had two classes after lunch (Spanish III, and Adv. Algebra II). Spanish III is rather intimidating, because all the people in the class are juniors or seniors and they all know each other. I feel kind of young and like an outcast, but I suppose that will change with time. Algebra II went wonderfully, and after reading the entire course packet at home because I was so dogone bored, I have decided that this course is going to be a sinch! Cross country could have been better. Even though my foot hurt, knowing that we have a race on Saturday, I was determined to at least run the warm up run. So Jason, being the gentleman that he is, ran slowly with me so that if I got hurt, then someone would be there. So we are running along laughing and such, and then somehow, I roll my ankle into a small hole or ditch or something. Man oh man did it hurt. So Jason helped me HOP back to the school (we were only about two blocks away or so, and I must give him proper credit, he did offer to carry me back, but being me, I declined. Thanks again Jason!). I got there, and again, Jason rushed t help. He went to the office and then to the teacher's lounge to get ice for my foot, meanwhile I am sitting on the bench, sulking because I would love nothing more at that moment than to run. Eileen, was also at practice, visiting us, and she comforted me and told me that she understood how I felt but that it was better to let it heal than to run on it. So, I heed her advice and sit on the bench for the next hour, trying to entertain myself. I then go home, and get ready for dance. Yes, I know what you are thinking. I AM OUT OF MY MIND! But hear the rest of the story before you pass judgment. Okay, so I get to dance, and ballet is first, so I simply do the exercises with only one leg on the ground. Yes, it was difficult beyond what you can conceive, but I wanted to do it so I did. I quickly figured out that tap and jazz would not be so easy on one foot, so I played the role of receptionist for the next hour and a half. BORING BORING BORING. But I did do something. I did do the ballet, I can go to bat for myself, and say that I am not a total lazy bum because I did do that! I did a lot of stuff (taht I cannot spell) that I never would have thought possible to do on one leg, but I DID IT! I DID IT. And now, I sit at home, on a school day, because I cannot walk on my hurt foot at all. I have been hopping up and down our stairs all the time, and hopefully tomorrow I will be back in school. :)
[This is a side note: All of my teachers were VERY understanding when I emailed them about the situation. I was pleasantly surprised, not only at their understanding nature, but also at the promptness with which they responded to my email! WOW!]

That is all for now. If you read this all I can say is . . . . . . . . . . . .WOW!
God bless.

Alright, about my weekend, though it wasn't too exciting.

I was running on Saturday, and working on some sprinting exercises, especially up and down hills (because I figure that is where people can lose the most time in a race). I have no idea what I did. All I know is a hour later, I couldn't walk on my right foot. It is extremely painful. I currently have it wrapped, and I have done the RICE thing, but other than that, there is not much to do, but sit and wait. Literally, SIT.
My sister came back from Chapel Hill today. And my mom, sister and I all went shopping at TTC, which was fun, or maybe I should say FUN"NY" You see, it is a comical situation when someone is walking around the mall, or no, not walking, hobbling, around the mall, on one foot. Yes, the foot is still in bad shape. Which is terrible news because I have cross country practice all week (yes, I will be there, whether or not I RUN), and at least 3 hours of dance each night. (sometimes more!) PLUS, and just to make me even more miserable, our first meet of the season is on Saturday. Let's just put this plainly THIS SUCKS! I want to run. I sat most of the season out last year do to a knee injury from dance, and then I got shin splints. I do not intend to have a repeat of last season on ANY TERMS! I also drove my mom around most of the weekend. I love to drive, and my mom says I am pretty good. :)
Well, I guess I should go back to my old saying:
I can complain because I sprained or twisted my foot, or I can rejoice because it IS NOT broken!
Yes, there is always a silver lining! And I am just the one to find it!!!!!!!!
There are bad things, but you can look at them, and whine and pout and stuff, or you can change your attitude. For instance, I plan to take a jump rope to practice tomorrow and jump rope on one foot so that I am at least moving around and strengthening my leg.

Oh, and the best part is I don't have to eat alone this year. My friend told me that I could eat with her group of people during lunch. HOORAY! no more lunch times alone!

So, re-cap My sister is home for a week and a half! School and dance start tomorrow; my foot is NOT broken, and I won't eat lunch alone at all this year! Can life get any better? I ask you this, CAN LIFE GET ANY ANY ANY GREATER THAN THIS????????????? Wow, I am the luckiest person in the entire world. I could ask for nothing more! (and this is to be read in a serios, non-sarcastic tone. I am completely serious when I say this. I am soooo happy!)

I LOVE MY LIFE! I AM SO LUCKY AND SO VERY VERY BLESSED.

This entry is dedicated to Jason, who gets me thinking! Thanks Jason!
So Jason and I went to Goodberry's yesterday evening, and had a very nice, long discussion.

Here is a portion of our conversation that really got me thinking:

"Life is so weird," I conclude, sighing.

"Very weird," he responds.

"Hold on. Life is weird, right? Alright, so. . .oh never mind; I'm being too philisophical."

"No, no. Go ahead."

"Well, if life is weird, that implies that everything in life is weird right? So what makes life weird? I mean, what are we basing the comparison on?"

We sat there thinking, and then we laughed. "Sorry," I said. "I just thought that if life is all we know, then how do we know what is weird?"

And his response was so simple and so obvious, and yet TRUE! "God. We are comparing it to what we know of God, and what we imagine of Heaven."


Wow, all I can say is "Wisdom is acquired at ALL ages. It is not something that comes with age." Jason is a prime example of this. Jason, thanks for getting me thinking, and for teaching me so much!

God bless.

I STILL WANNA CHANGE THE WORLD. AND I PLAN TO DO SO!

Alright more lecturing from ME! lol.


When the door of happiness closes, another opens; but often times we look so long at the closed door that
we don't see the one which has been opened for us.

Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades
away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make
a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.

Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to
be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want
to do.

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you
strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy. The
happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just
make the most of everything that comes along their way.

The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't
go forward in life until you let go of your past pain and failures and heartaches.


My only comment is spoken as a quotation of an amazing person "True dat." (-Kelly Atkinson).

God bless.

I WANNA CHANGE THE WORLD!

"When your world is closing, life is coming at you.
When you're in the darkest corner I'm the one who'll come and catch ya
When your life is wondering down some no where highway
Try a different point of view and do your best to see things my way.
Looking down there is brother facing brother
fighting one on one
But from the ground you can look up at the stars and see the words
"I LOVE YOU"
faded high above you.

Gonna change the world, gonna make it right
Gonna get down on my knees tonight
Gonna change it all Gonna find a way
Gonna start to change the world today

There is not a book that you cannot revise.
When you're in the darkest corner all you do
is shine your light up
When the other guy is bigger than the sky
Just before he's gonna getcha
You can always try a smile first
All around hear a million lonely people as they say
Goodbye
But there's a sound of a world that's full of laughter
because now I know I'm better at Hello

Gonna change the world, gonna make it right
Gonna get down on my knees tonight
Gonna change it all Gonna find a way
Gonna start to change the world today

When something is wrong
Only we can turn it around
So give me your hand my brother
and walk together
cause we've got a mountain to climb.

Gonna change the world, gonna make it right
Gonna get down on my knees tonight
Gonna change it all Gonna find a way
Gonna start to change the world today

Alright so now for the section of "Funny Quotes From Today"


"Wow! Look how pretty I am!" (Emily, Age 2 while looking in the mirror.)

"Everybody should run with a partner in case something happens. Unless, of course, your name is Jason Kennedy. Then you HAVE to run by yourself 'cause no one can keep up with you. (Me, while we were discussing safety rules for cross country)

"Why don't you just sleep on the trampoline in the back yard? It's tons cooler out there." (the father I nanny for when discussing the air conditioning)

"Can we play football this week? I mean, frisbee. Can we play frisbee this week? Well, actually football could work too, as long as it is tackle football." (a girl at cross country practice)

"No. We don't run until we get to the corner. It's a TRADITION! We just CAN'T run until we get to the corner. That's just the way it is." (hmmmm. . .hmmmmm . . . .someone at cross country practice)

"When Geoff's not here, I have to improvise. And this is the next best thing." (Me during stretches because Geoff always helped me stretch, but he wasn't there today, so I had to grab my ankle, while standing, and pull it towards my head."

"I got it! Let's all lie down on the ground. Heat rises right?" (Me because this house is so darn hot!)

"Why am I so dirty? Look I am covered in dirt. Oh, wait! It's because I am stretching in a pile of dirt! I am so stupid." (Melissa Evett)

"Most kids can't even do the crossword puzzle clues. And here is Lindsay making up the entire puzzle. Geez. And she's not even in school yet!" (the guy I nanny for)

"Hello? Are you there? Have you had a heat stroke?" (Josh, talking to me on AIM, while I was idle, during the heat wave that is passing through my house)

"Jason, since you are not a student here. You can't win the prize tomorrow. But you can win it for me. And I will share a percentage of it with you." (Dane)

"So, Jason, if you are gonna be at practice during school next week, why don't you come to class with me and take notes and stuff FOR me?"

"Tweenies and Clay Aiken are the bestest. But I don't like those guys that share their name with that bug, or that guy with the funny black hair." (Maddy, age five, in reference to the Beatles and Elvis)

"Why don't kids ever pretend they are going to the Buddhist Temple?" (the guy I nanny for after his kids told him they were pretending to go to church)


So that was my day today. It is sooooo hot in here. I am sweating a lot, but hey as they say,
"You can complain because roses have thorns or you can rejoice because thorns have roses."
So I can complain because I have no air conditioning or I can rejoice because I have a roof over my head. I choose the latter one.