Okay, I was thinking today about the things that make me happy in life--- and it made me happy and smiley just to think about them. Here's the condensed version of what makes me happy and smiley: (oh, they are in no particular order)
1. CHILE (the country...chili is okay too!) and the Gaia School (Paola, Rob, Juan, Gisell, Orlando, Dagly, and Alvaro)
2. my school (I love my hs...I couldn't ask for a more learning-centered, academically challenging, and motivating environment in which to learn)
3. my friends (Goodberrys [and learning to ice skate... it was quite the scene, I'm sure...and going hiking] with Jason; Palace Point with Cameron, Chile with Marsha and Kit and all the other cool kids, lunch with Mark with a too-perky waitress, and all the other memories...wow.)
4. dance (or at least it did...somewhere in my heart, the passion is still there, but for now it's become a new kind of memory...not good, not bad...it's just there. I heart the good memories that haven't been erased by the prominence of the bad ones, and of course I love the people I met-- the kids my age, and the kids I taught, and my teachers...)
5. my sweethearts- (aka my doggies and kitties, Finney, Max, Mysti, Jenna, Deacon, Hope, Ginger and Casey)
6. Bojangles iced tea
7. Country music
8. My church, youth program and youth leaders (and all the other pastors and my friends there)
9. The smell of the air in the minutes before a thunder storm
10. Overalls and ribbons tied in my ponytail (a phase I will likely never outgrow)
11. TV shows (there are only a few that deserve this list): Strong Medicine, Law and Order: SVU, West Wing and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and Friends (we have most of the seasons on dvd...a definite, constant source of laughter when I need it!)
12. Movies: Casablanca, Miss Congeniality (1 and 2), Sound of Music (as it is on VHS with Julie Andrews) and Promises (a documentary about the effects of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict on children)
13. Books: When the Last Leaf Falls, Amusing Ourselves to Death, Humanity: A moral history of the 20th Century
14. Clay Aiken
15. Writing my novel... actually I have two works-in-progress right now. One of them will remain top secret until it is (if it ever is) done
16. the color yellow
17. the smell (don't think i'm crazy) of hardware stores and craft stores, and sort of shoe stores... but not as much
18. my gym, especially this one guy that works there...er...I mean, especially the bikes, the indoor track and the stair-master
19. my car... it's just all-around wonderful...most of the time!
20. doing things that weird other people out...it's super-fun. like...answering my cell phone and preceeding to have a conversation, even though the phone never rang and no one is on the line, or answering my home phone one of three ways:
1. in Spanish
2. "Thank you for calling Papa Johns pizza. How may I help you?"
3. "Orange." (or ocassionally "Purple.") You see, a lot of people, (even on Full House)
answer the phone with "Yellow" as in, an alternate version of "hello." Why yellow? Why not purple or Orange?
And there are other fun ways to weird people out...dance around in a public place to whatever song happens to be on their music system...weird looks are fun to get...
21. Flex committee, though I have to go during summer vacation, is super-awesome. I heart working with the teachers and the other two students to create and improve flex programs
22. Babysitting
23. Research papers--- okay, I'm a dork, but that's okay with me. I really enjoy consuming information and formulating ideas, comparisons, or whatever.
24. Being hyper, and as I informed Ms. Greenwalt (and a few other students), it doesn't make me immature...just happy and energetic and/or excited...there is a difference. (suprisingly, she agreed! haha)
25. the news...i feel so informed and well-rounded...plus, I learn a lot (mad props to CNN, MSNBC, our local news stations, and the NY Times)
26. Duke Bball, even though we're losing players to the NBA...
27. Crest toothpaste...yeah, that's random, but oh well
28. my Saucony running shoes...I heart them sooooo much
29. one thing that makes me happy is the idea that I can effect change in the world--- I have the power...it sounds trite...but it means so much to me that I can have a lasting impact on the world--- I don't have to be a vapor that comes and leaves...I can be something. I can be the one who finds a cure for cancer...or AIDs, or who helps save lives in other ways...someone who impacts the world, echoing change and betterment long after I leave...that would be awesome. The idea itself makes me happy...I can't imagine the feeling of actually accomplishing that...wow. How amazing.
30. the prospect of going to college and getting married, and getting a job, and having kids, and growing old together with the man I marry...the future in general makes me happy
So there it is...it's blah and just a bunch of incoherent nonsense, so I promise to come back with something more next time...something of substance with importance or pertinance in your life...maybe (but probably not, but i'll try none the less)
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Wow. Here I am and I don't know how to put into words what I'm thinking and feeling. To be honest, I'm really sad. Ms. Greenwalt is, as many of you know, moving to Boston this summer. In fact, she's loading today. Wow, that came unexpectedly ... at least for me. The two of us (Ms. G and I) had been putting off saying goodbye because we both figured she would stay through most of the summer and we would get to say goodbye in July at church. Well, she's loading today, (as I said earlier) and it doesn't look like she's coming to church on Sunday. I'm upset and relieved at the same time...funny, huh? I am going to miss her terribly, and I really wanted to say goodbye, but in her email she said, "Maybe it's better to have no official goodbye...just, see you soon." I knew that it would hurt to say goodbye, but it hurts this way too. Of course, she's stressed with the move, closing, etc. So, for now, we've said "see you later" and hopefully, I will [see her later, I mean]. I'm sure she'll be back next spring for graduation, but that's a long way off. I will miss her dearly, of course, but maybe it's less painful to have an open-ended farewell, (which may actually be no farewell at all), and less painful to not have a final chapter...there's much time left.
In other news...A toddler was abandoned in Washington state on Monday night. He is said to be in good health--- warm, recently fed, and well-cared for. He was left in the stairwell of a church. The person who abandoned him sat on the stairs with him until he fell asleep...and then left. No one has reported a missing child, and police do not yet know to whom the child belongs. And no one seems to be able to get the child to talk. I can't sit in judgement here...there may have been extenuating circumstances or major problems that we can only guess at or imagine. I hope, I really do hope, that whoever left this child had a good reason for doing so.
In other news...A toddler was abandoned in Washington state on Monday night. He is said to be in good health--- warm, recently fed, and well-cared for. He was left in the stairwell of a church. The person who abandoned him sat on the stairs with him until he fell asleep...and then left. No one has reported a missing child, and police do not yet know to whom the child belongs. And no one seems to be able to get the child to talk. I can't sit in judgement here...there may have been extenuating circumstances or major problems that we can only guess at or imagine. I hope, I really do hope, that whoever left this child had a good reason for doing so.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Not much to post about. Same ol' same ol'. VBS was this week. I was in the three-year-old room, helping out. I love my Riley and my Sam (actually I heart all the kids in that class, but those two in particular). Apparently they both go home at night and talk about me. They are soooo sweet. Tonight's the "closing" ceremony. (even though we still have another day of VBS tomorrow/friday). All the kids will sing, dance or do a skit for their parents/families. Of course, my kids will likely just stand on-stage and do the hand motions for the songs. They haven't figured out the singing thing yet. Oh well. After VBS ended today, the church treated all the youth helpers to lunch at Fuddruckers, which was fun. Megan (she works at CHBC, and she's soooo sweet) drove me to Fuddruckers, and emphatically informed me that I am a nut. Okay, I guess I can't deny it any longer. I am a NUT. We had fun, though. Tomorrow's the last day of VBS...*tears* I'll miss my three-year-olds for sure!
I finally met Carlye's baby, Elisha Stephen Dash Daugird! YAY. He's sooo cute.
At the end of July (more specifically July 28-August 1) I'll be in D.C. looking at colleges! (Georgetown, George Washington University, and American U). I'm excited. I think the prospect of living in D.C. (or M.A. or N.Y.) is very, very exciting and a wonderful opportunity. Those are the other two places I'd like to live, if not in NC or VA (which would be okay, but the climate is just getting to be a bore). I am looking at Northeastern University and Boston University, in MA; and I'm looking at a few colleges in NY. It's very much still a scary process, but it's exciting at the same time. Of course, I still have college apps and essays looming ominously over my head, as well as my second go-round with the SAT, though I think I did fine on it the first time. However, no one seems to be able to tell me what a "good" score is for applying to college.
If anyone has a good idea for a column topic, tell me. I want to write a regular column in the school paper this year, but I don't know what to write about.
More later. Time for the closing ceremony now.
I finally met Carlye's baby, Elisha Stephen Dash Daugird! YAY. He's sooo cute.
At the end of July (more specifically July 28-August 1) I'll be in D.C. looking at colleges! (Georgetown, George Washington University, and American U). I'm excited. I think the prospect of living in D.C. (or M.A. or N.Y.) is very, very exciting and a wonderful opportunity. Those are the other two places I'd like to live, if not in NC or VA (which would be okay, but the climate is just getting to be a bore). I am looking at Northeastern University and Boston University, in MA; and I'm looking at a few colleges in NY. It's very much still a scary process, but it's exciting at the same time. Of course, I still have college apps and essays looming ominously over my head, as well as my second go-round with the SAT, though I think I did fine on it the first time. However, no one seems to be able to tell me what a "good" score is for applying to college.
If anyone has a good idea for a column topic, tell me. I want to write a regular column in the school paper this year, but I don't know what to write about.
More later. Time for the closing ceremony now.
Monday, June 13, 2005
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
I really really want to travel the world. I've been thinking about that a lot lately. Here's my list...
Top 5 Places I want to see for purely tourist reasons
(in no particular order, and of course I'm not going anytime soon)
1. Greece
2. Australia
3. Spain
4. France
5. Italy
(European continent- and Australia-, here I come...only not)
Coming in, in the top ten to finish off the list:
6. Brazil
7. Switzerland
8. China
9. Egypt
10. Israel
(and I guess Germany gets to be number 11)
Top 5 places I want to go on my quest to make a difference in this world:
1. Ethiopia
2. Sudan
3. Phillipines
4. Honduras
5. India
And the top 3 things I want to do in my life (other than get married, have kids, graduate college, get a job that makes me happy, and run a marathon):
1. Affect change (through politics or diplomacy, curing AIDS or cancer, ending world hunger, creating peace; I don't care, as long as I have a positive impact on the world)
2. Finish and publish a novel (not necessarily the one I started already)
3. Travel
That sounds stupid doesn't it? That my top three things include publishing a book that no one'll read, and traveling. How selfish. Well, I guess if you break down all the things I think I'd like to do to affect change...no not really. Still selfish. I guess I'd really just like to feel like I've had some influence on the world that has made it easier/better for the next generation. I don't want a utopian society, by any means. Some pain and suffering does induce growth, which is good. It's the unnecessary pain and the endless hurt that I want to alleviate. Maybe someday...
Top 5 Places I want to see for purely tourist reasons
(in no particular order, and of course I'm not going anytime soon)
1. Greece
2. Australia
3. Spain
4. France
5. Italy
(European continent- and Australia-, here I come...only not)
Coming in, in the top ten to finish off the list:
6. Brazil
7. Switzerland
8. China
9. Egypt
10. Israel
(and I guess Germany gets to be number 11)
Top 5 places I want to go on my quest to make a difference in this world:
1. Ethiopia
2. Sudan
3. Phillipines
4. Honduras
5. India
And the top 3 things I want to do in my life (other than get married, have kids, graduate college, get a job that makes me happy, and run a marathon):
1. Affect change (through politics or diplomacy, curing AIDS or cancer, ending world hunger, creating peace; I don't care, as long as I have a positive impact on the world)
2. Finish and publish a novel (not necessarily the one I started already)
3. Travel
That sounds stupid doesn't it? That my top three things include publishing a book that no one'll read, and traveling. How selfish. Well, I guess if you break down all the things I think I'd like to do to affect change...no not really. Still selfish. I guess I'd really just like to feel like I've had some influence on the world that has made it easier/better for the next generation. I don't want a utopian society, by any means. Some pain and suffering does induce growth, which is good. It's the unnecessary pain and the endless hurt that I want to alleviate. Maybe someday...
Saturday, May 14, 2005
This is more of an amuzing story, than anything else.
So today, I was washing my face with some sort of astringent...made by the company Sea Breeze. Anyway, about five minutes later, my dad asks me why my face is so red. I look in the mirror and it looks like I have a really, really, breally bad sunburn, only I haven't been out in the sun in a long time (at least not for a prolonged period of time). Well, it isn't going away, apparently, and instead, I have a red face, with white splotches where I didn't actually clean. So, I look like a freak, and I can't get it to go away. I've researched the product and none of the ingredients should have caused this...good times. If you have a remedy, it's much appreciated! :)
So today, I was washing my face with some sort of astringent...made by the company Sea Breeze. Anyway, about five minutes later, my dad asks me why my face is so red. I look in the mirror and it looks like I have a really, really, breally bad sunburn, only I haven't been out in the sun in a long time (at least not for a prolonged period of time). Well, it isn't going away, apparently, and instead, I have a red face, with white splotches where I didn't actually clean. So, I look like a freak, and I can't get it to go away. I've researched the product and none of the ingredients should have caused this...good times. If you have a remedy, it's much appreciated! :)
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
I'm not sure anyone still reads this, but I still like to update occassionally. Lately, life has seemed pretty hectic; I've had two AP exams (U.S. History and English) and I took the SAT. Plus I gave my presentation in Topics today. It was on the roles of communism, outside influences, and nationalism on the rise/fall of the Berlin Wall vs. the roles of the three aforementioned things on the Korean DMZ. I had told Ms. G that I needed lots of time, but the person who went before me today took more than his share of the time, so I had to rush through to be sure I covered all the info before class ended. So I'm worried I won't get a good grade. Not really my fault, though...
This week is teacher appreciation week, and tonight I made "dessert plates" for each of my teachers--- each plate has 2 choc chip cookies, 2 turtle brownies, 2 lemon squares and 2 7-layer bars...I wish I was a teacher! haha.
I've been thinking about college a lot lately, and a lot more about how much I'm gonna miss the people who are leaving RCHS this year---seniors and teachers. Plus, of course I still have to decide where to apply to college, where to go if I get in anywhere, and what to major in, what job to take, whether to go to graduate school, etc. In case you can't tell, I like having a plan for my life.
As for next year's extracurriculars, it looks like sports will be out of the question, which makes me sad. So far, my activities for next year are Senior Class Sec., SLA, Editor of The Flame, Prez of Environmental Club, Co-Prez of RCCF, and hopefully I'll be able to start a Mock-Trial group at school. *cross fingers* People are bugging me to join key club and women's issues club, and I definitely miss doing quiz bowl, but I'm feeling a little overcommitted. UVA and UNC-CH are still at the top of my college list, but my mom has her own list: Meredith, Salem, Randolf-Macon Women's College, Agnes-Scott. My dad wants me to go out-of-state, but he favors Bryan College mostly. I wish they didn't get a say, because if I choose a college from one of their lists, then the other person will be mad at me.
Teachers leaving after this year: Greenwalt, Tranquillo, Caudill, Lachance (that's all I'm sure of, but I know there are others...)
The future is a funny thing I think. Everything up until next year will be planned for me--- where to live, where to go to school, etc. But suddenly, after high school, my future is in my hands...and that really, really scares me. What if I screw up? What if I don't go the right college? Or the right grad school? Or get the right job? Or marry the right person? This scares me a lot. Whereas in the past, I have had no choice which direction to go...now every decision is mostly mine. MINE. What a scary, scray thought.
This week is teacher appreciation week, and tonight I made "dessert plates" for each of my teachers--- each plate has 2 choc chip cookies, 2 turtle brownies, 2 lemon squares and 2 7-layer bars...I wish I was a teacher! haha.
I've been thinking about college a lot lately, and a lot more about how much I'm gonna miss the people who are leaving RCHS this year---seniors and teachers. Plus, of course I still have to decide where to apply to college, where to go if I get in anywhere, and what to major in, what job to take, whether to go to graduate school, etc. In case you can't tell, I like having a plan for my life.
As for next year's extracurriculars, it looks like sports will be out of the question, which makes me sad. So far, my activities for next year are Senior Class Sec., SLA, Editor of The Flame, Prez of Environmental Club, Co-Prez of RCCF, and hopefully I'll be able to start a Mock-Trial group at school. *cross fingers* People are bugging me to join key club and women's issues club, and I definitely miss doing quiz bowl, but I'm feeling a little overcommitted. UVA and UNC-CH are still at the top of my college list, but my mom has her own list: Meredith, Salem, Randolf-Macon Women's College, Agnes-Scott. My dad wants me to go out-of-state, but he favors Bryan College mostly. I wish they didn't get a say, because if I choose a college from one of their lists, then the other person will be mad at me.
Teachers leaving after this year: Greenwalt, Tranquillo, Caudill, Lachance (that's all I'm sure of, but I know there are others...)
The future is a funny thing I think. Everything up until next year will be planned for me--- where to live, where to go to school, etc. But suddenly, after high school, my future is in my hands...and that really, really scares me. What if I screw up? What if I don't go the right college? Or the right grad school? Or get the right job? Or marry the right person? This scares me a lot. Whereas in the past, I have had no choice which direction to go...now every decision is mostly mine. MINE. What a scary, scray thought.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
I don't think anyone still reads this, but it's fun to write anyway...
Life is crazy busy and stressful right now. It's like a million emotions all stacked up, and suddenly they finally start tumbling down and you realize you weren't made to handle all of this. I always imagined I would be excited, thrilled, ecstatic to get out of the house and go to college, but lately, instead of dreaming of it, I've been worrying about it more and more. Partly because I don't want to leave home, but that's really not going to be the hard part. Mostly, I'm scared of the future. That sounds nuts, I know. It's just that I'm afraid I'll screw up--- pick the wrong school, major in the wrong subject--- and ruin my future...then I won't get a good job or go to grad school, I won't marry a good guy, I won't have kids, etc. It's a weird anxiety that I can't seem to shake...oh well.
UVA, UNC-CH and Meredith are still my top three, and I don't see them changing...at least not now. UVA because it's humanities department is the coolest, and that's 1/2 of my planned majors. UNC-CH because...well, it's a good school, and I think I would enjoy going to school there. Meredith is smaller than the other two, with no boys (not sure how I feel about that...) but I'll decide more after Ms. Talley takes me to look at it. Of all of them, UVA has the prettiest campus. And UNC gets a plus for being near my church. I haven't really looked into the Spanish departments of any of them, but I need to. I want to major in history and spanish, and then I want to teach, so probably a Bachelor's in Secondary Ed. I'm thinking of teaching for two years, and then going to med school. It'll be most-excellent (<-- that's a Marsha-ism). I don't know yet, though.
I miss Chile. I find myself zoning out of discussions, conversations, reading, whatever, and thinking of Chile. It consumes my thoughts and my life, really. I can't say that it'll always be so special to me--- I've never been to another country, (other than Canada), so I guess my infatuation is in large part due to the newness of being outside the U.S., and not so much the beauty or charm of the country itself, or at least, that's what people keep telling me...I doubt it. I want to work with Doctors without Borders or the Mercy Corps...maybe in Chile, but first I want to cure AIDS and Cancer.
Back to emotions...Last year I felt this deep saddness when the senior class graduated, because I had known them for two years. But I'm finding that this year will be all the harder...And saying goodbye to the teachers that are leaving will be hard too. So far, I know Ms. Tranquillo and Ms. Greenwalt are leaving. Boo. (<-- that's a Maggie-ism.)
And trying to find a job for the summer is impossible. Too many adults are unemployed, so there's a lack of need for teens in the workplace...no bueno. I've applied at JiffyLube...wouldn't it be funny for me to work there??? :)
Life is crazy busy and stressful right now. It's like a million emotions all stacked up, and suddenly they finally start tumbling down and you realize you weren't made to handle all of this. I always imagined I would be excited, thrilled, ecstatic to get out of the house and go to college, but lately, instead of dreaming of it, I've been worrying about it more and more. Partly because I don't want to leave home, but that's really not going to be the hard part. Mostly, I'm scared of the future. That sounds nuts, I know. It's just that I'm afraid I'll screw up--- pick the wrong school, major in the wrong subject--- and ruin my future...then I won't get a good job or go to grad school, I won't marry a good guy, I won't have kids, etc. It's a weird anxiety that I can't seem to shake...oh well.
UVA, UNC-CH and Meredith are still my top three, and I don't see them changing...at least not now. UVA because it's humanities department is the coolest, and that's 1/2 of my planned majors. UNC-CH because...well, it's a good school, and I think I would enjoy going to school there. Meredith is smaller than the other two, with no boys (not sure how I feel about that...) but I'll decide more after Ms. Talley takes me to look at it. Of all of them, UVA has the prettiest campus. And UNC gets a plus for being near my church. I haven't really looked into the Spanish departments of any of them, but I need to. I want to major in history and spanish, and then I want to teach, so probably a Bachelor's in Secondary Ed. I'm thinking of teaching for two years, and then going to med school. It'll be most-excellent (<-- that's a Marsha-ism). I don't know yet, though.
I miss Chile. I find myself zoning out of discussions, conversations, reading, whatever, and thinking of Chile. It consumes my thoughts and my life, really. I can't say that it'll always be so special to me--- I've never been to another country, (other than Canada), so I guess my infatuation is in large part due to the newness of being outside the U.S., and not so much the beauty or charm of the country itself, or at least, that's what people keep telling me...I doubt it. I want to work with Doctors without Borders or the Mercy Corps...maybe in Chile, but first I want to cure AIDS and Cancer.
Back to emotions...Last year I felt this deep saddness when the senior class graduated, because I had known them for two years. But I'm finding that this year will be all the harder...And saying goodbye to the teachers that are leaving will be hard too. So far, I know Ms. Tranquillo and Ms. Greenwalt are leaving. Boo. (<-- that's a Maggie-ism.)
And trying to find a job for the summer is impossible. Too many adults are unemployed, so there's a lack of need for teens in the workplace...no bueno. I've applied at JiffyLube...wouldn't it be funny for me to work there??? :)
Friday, April 01, 2005
Last night I realized just how much I miss Chile--- and everyone there.
Juan, Orlando, and the other teachers at the Gaia School have MSN Messenger (the hotmail version of AIM), so I downloaded it in order to be able to talk to them. Well, Orlando and Juan got on around the same time, and they start IM-ing me. It was sooo nice to know I was talking to them (even if I occassionally cheated and used an online translator to figure out what they were saying...) and then they both surprised me with the fact that both of them had a web camera. So not only was I talking to two of the 6 people I miss dearly, but I got to SEE them too. Sure, it was only a digital image, but it was them, moving, breathing nonetheless. :) They waved to me, and being the idiot I am, I tried to wave back--- which would've worked, 'cept I don't have a web cam, so they couldn't see me.
I'm trying to go back to Chile for three weeks this summer. I'm working on finding and earning the money I need. I know it's crazy that the only country I've ever been to out of the U.S. is the one I wanna live in--- nope, I don't really care to see the rest of the world. Course, it would be nice, but Chile is all I need. And at some point, I'd like to visit the University of Santiago, because some part (if not all) of my college career is going to be spent there...barring the admissions process 'n such. But again, that needs to be added on to a time when I'm down there--- I am NOT paying the airline prices just to visit a college...seems a little silly, especially since Expedia now has its lowest prices (for roundtrip to Santiago) at about $1200...WOW.
Greenwalt's Scrapbook--- yeah, needs to be worked on...in fact, I'm gonna go do that now. Later. More Chile stories to come, I promise.
Juan, Orlando, and the other teachers at the Gaia School have MSN Messenger (the hotmail version of AIM), so I downloaded it in order to be able to talk to them. Well, Orlando and Juan got on around the same time, and they start IM-ing me. It was sooo nice to know I was talking to them (even if I occassionally cheated and used an online translator to figure out what they were saying...) and then they both surprised me with the fact that both of them had a web camera. So not only was I talking to two of the 6 people I miss dearly, but I got to SEE them too. Sure, it was only a digital image, but it was them, moving, breathing nonetheless. :) They waved to me, and being the idiot I am, I tried to wave back--- which would've worked, 'cept I don't have a web cam, so they couldn't see me.
I'm trying to go back to Chile for three weeks this summer. I'm working on finding and earning the money I need. I know it's crazy that the only country I've ever been to out of the U.S. is the one I wanna live in--- nope, I don't really care to see the rest of the world. Course, it would be nice, but Chile is all I need. And at some point, I'd like to visit the University of Santiago, because some part (if not all) of my college career is going to be spent there...barring the admissions process 'n such. But again, that needs to be added on to a time when I'm down there--- I am NOT paying the airline prices just to visit a college...seems a little silly, especially since Expedia now has its lowest prices (for roundtrip to Santiago) at about $1200...WOW.
Greenwalt's Scrapbook--- yeah, needs to be worked on...in fact, I'm gonna go do that now. Later. More Chile stories to come, I promise.
Monday, March 28, 2005
Chile.
Wow. Amazing. Incredible. Once-in-a-lifetime. Beautiful. Breath-taking. Wow.
Chile was awesome. We had fun on the plane up there--- even though I got to sit next to Slattery and mom on both the flights down to Santiago. We arrived like two hours later than scheduled. Once down there, Roberto and Juan greeted us at the airport, immediately talking to me (since they knew me from last year) in Spanish. (yeah, that threw me off at first). The Tampa Prep kids, Birmingham kids and RCHS kids all boarded two buses. I was under the impression on our two and a half hour ride to Olmue that Robert thinks highly of me...he was already calling me "hija mia" (my daughter) before we had been on the bus an hour. We headed to that quiet, little village called Olmue. Such a peaceful place (until all the villagers decide to celebrate Easter by getting drunk and smoking pot-- and talking on non-existent cell phones, don't ask). But it was fun. We toured El Copihue, the five-star hotel where we stayed. The first day was mostly a tour of the hotel area and of the surrounding village/town.
The second day, we went to an island to see penguins! Mucho fun! lol. We rode little itty-bitty boats out in the ocean, and around an island inhabited by penguins and protected by the government. Then we headed for the beach nearby where we played soccer, football and swam in the ocean. It's gorgeous. Wow.
The following day, we went camping in the Andes. Marsha can tell you all about La Montana. She and a few others went up the moutain, following animal trails. (Meanwhile, I'm swimming in the muddiest lake on earth and helping cook dinner). Apparently the mountain's plants were all thorns that looked like harmless bushes... so Marsha, Grant, Josh, Harry and a few others came back bleeding all over from the prickly enemy they encountered along the way. We were camping in some type of cow pasture because there was "caca de vaca" everywhere. Oh yeah, good times. I helped fix and serve dinner, which consisted of steak, hot-dog-type-things (choripan), salad, potatoes, fruit, chicken, and some type of vegetable/potatoe salad with mayonaise thing... Of course, there was no bathroom to speak of, no running water, and other such luxuries, but we had the greatest time. Rob and Juan had set up tents and brought stools for everyone. I helped wash up the dishes after dinner, and then Poala (co-founder of the Gaia School), Julie, Lane and I played "Guess That Person" in Spanish. (A non-english version of 20 questions). We built a massive bonfire and hung out for a while. Then it was time to go to bed, and I put my sleeping bag out next to the bonfire which by this time was dwindling. That was only after Rob put rocks around the perimeter to ensure our safety while we slept. In the morning, I ended up helping cook/serve breakfast, which consisted of eggs, more steak, fruit, bread and cereal). Then we had free time for a while, before playing games. We played- find the plastic spoon in the middle of a forest; retrieve your torch from the top of a hill, and cross-dressing. Lunch was sandwiches, so there was little to prepare. After that, we cleaned up camp and headed by to El Copihue. We had been placed in classes based on our Spanish ability a few days before--- I was in advanced. Fun stuff.
There's SOOOO MUCH MORE to tell, but I am exhausted after being on a plane/in airports for 12 hours. But I'll leave you with some funny quotes from Chile:
"Chile is a cross between Johnston County and the O.C., divided by friendly-looking mountains that really have prickly plants." -Marsha, 3-21-05
"I think I just pulled half a tree out of my pants." -Marsha 3-20-05
"Quesodillas son una mezcla de queso y pesadillas." -Paola 3-20-05 (Translated: Quesodillas are a mix of cheese and nightmares.)
Me: Why are there so many dogs running around Chile?
Mr. Slattery: The Catholic Church
"Super-mega-bacan." -Everyone said it at some point. "Bacan" = "cool"
"Five naked people, in my bed, smoking crack." -Someone, who shall remain nameless (only, none of that actually happened...) <-- but I agree, it was the prank to beat all pranks.
Mr. Slattery: Go pick up all the caca and put it in the trash.
Kit: But Mr. Slattery, you're too big to pick up.
Me: Habla con la mano.
Mr. Slattery: Es mejor como tu cara.
(Translation: Me: Talk to the hand. Mr. Slattery: It's better than your face.)
More to come! And pictures too!
Wow. Amazing. Incredible. Once-in-a-lifetime. Beautiful. Breath-taking. Wow.
Chile was awesome. We had fun on the plane up there--- even though I got to sit next to Slattery and mom on both the flights down to Santiago. We arrived like two hours later than scheduled. Once down there, Roberto and Juan greeted us at the airport, immediately talking to me (since they knew me from last year) in Spanish. (yeah, that threw me off at first). The Tampa Prep kids, Birmingham kids and RCHS kids all boarded two buses. I was under the impression on our two and a half hour ride to Olmue that Robert thinks highly of me...he was already calling me "hija mia" (my daughter) before we had been on the bus an hour. We headed to that quiet, little village called Olmue. Such a peaceful place (until all the villagers decide to celebrate Easter by getting drunk and smoking pot-- and talking on non-existent cell phones, don't ask). But it was fun. We toured El Copihue, the five-star hotel where we stayed. The first day was mostly a tour of the hotel area and of the surrounding village/town.
The second day, we went to an island to see penguins! Mucho fun! lol. We rode little itty-bitty boats out in the ocean, and around an island inhabited by penguins and protected by the government. Then we headed for the beach nearby where we played soccer, football and swam in the ocean. It's gorgeous. Wow.
The following day, we went camping in the Andes. Marsha can tell you all about La Montana. She and a few others went up the moutain, following animal trails. (Meanwhile, I'm swimming in the muddiest lake on earth and helping cook dinner). Apparently the mountain's plants were all thorns that looked like harmless bushes... so Marsha, Grant, Josh, Harry and a few others came back bleeding all over from the prickly enemy they encountered along the way. We were camping in some type of cow pasture because there was "caca de vaca" everywhere. Oh yeah, good times. I helped fix and serve dinner, which consisted of steak, hot-dog-type-things (choripan), salad, potatoes, fruit, chicken, and some type of vegetable/potatoe salad with mayonaise thing... Of course, there was no bathroom to speak of, no running water, and other such luxuries, but we had the greatest time. Rob and Juan had set up tents and brought stools for everyone. I helped wash up the dishes after dinner, and then Poala (co-founder of the Gaia School), Julie, Lane and I played "Guess That Person" in Spanish. (A non-english version of 20 questions). We built a massive bonfire and hung out for a while. Then it was time to go to bed, and I put my sleeping bag out next to the bonfire which by this time was dwindling. That was only after Rob put rocks around the perimeter to ensure our safety while we slept. In the morning, I ended up helping cook/serve breakfast, which consisted of eggs, more steak, fruit, bread and cereal). Then we had free time for a while, before playing games. We played- find the plastic spoon in the middle of a forest; retrieve your torch from the top of a hill, and cross-dressing. Lunch was sandwiches, so there was little to prepare. After that, we cleaned up camp and headed by to El Copihue. We had been placed in classes based on our Spanish ability a few days before--- I was in advanced. Fun stuff.
There's SOOOO MUCH MORE to tell, but I am exhausted after being on a plane/in airports for 12 hours. But I'll leave you with some funny quotes from Chile:
"Chile is a cross between Johnston County and the O.C., divided by friendly-looking mountains that really have prickly plants." -Marsha, 3-21-05
"I think I just pulled half a tree out of my pants." -Marsha 3-20-05
"Quesodillas son una mezcla de queso y pesadillas." -Paola 3-20-05 (Translated: Quesodillas are a mix of cheese and nightmares.)
Me: Why are there so many dogs running around Chile?
Mr. Slattery: The Catholic Church
"Super-mega-bacan." -Everyone said it at some point. "Bacan" = "cool"
"Five naked people, in my bed, smoking crack." -Someone, who shall remain nameless (only, none of that actually happened...) <-- but I agree, it was the prank to beat all pranks.
Mr. Slattery: Go pick up all the caca and put it in the trash.
Kit: But Mr. Slattery, you're too big to pick up.
Me: Habla con la mano.
Mr. Slattery: Es mejor como tu cara.
(Translation: Me: Talk to the hand. Mr. Slattery: It's better than your face.)
More to come! And pictures too!
Chile.
Wow. Amazing. Incredible. Once-in-a-lifetime. Beautiful. Breath-taking. Wow.
Chile was awesome. We had fun on the plane up there--- even though I got to sit next to Slattery and mom on both the flights down to Santiago. We arrived like two hours later than scheduled. Once down there, Roberto and Juan greeted us at the airport, immediately talking to me (since they knew me from last year) in Spanish. (yeah, that threw me off at first). The Tampa Prep kids, Birmingham kids and RCHS kids all boarded two buses. I was under the impression on our two and a half hour ride to Olmue that Robert thinks highly of me...he was already calling me "hija mia" (my daughter) before we had been on the bus an hour. We headed to that quiet, little village called Olmue. Such a peaceful place (until all the villagers decide to celebrate Easter by getting drunk and smoking pot-- and talking on non-existent cell phones, don't ask). But it was fun. We toured El Copihue, the five-star hotel where we stayed. The first day was mostly a tour of the hotel area and of the surrounding village/town.
The second day, we went to an island to see penguins! Mucho fun! lol. We rode little itty-bitty boats out in the ocean, and around an island inhabited by penguins and protected by the government. Then we headed for the beach nearby where we played soccer, football and swam in the ocean. It's gorgeous. Wow.
The following day, we went camping in the Andes. Marsha can tell you all about La Montana. She and a few others went up the moutain, following animal trails. (Meanwhile, I'm swimming in the muddiest lake on earth and helping cook dinner). Apparently the mountain's plants were all thorns that looked like harmless bushes... so Marsha, Grant, Josh, Harry and a few others came back bleeding all over from the prickly enemy they encountered along the way. We were camping in some type of cow pasture because there was "caca de vaca" everywhere. Oh yeah, good times. I helped fix and serve dinner, which consisted of steak, hot-dog-type-things (choripan), salad, potatoes, fruit, chicken, and some type of vegetable/potatoe salad with mayonaise thing... Of course, there was no bathroom to speak of, no running water, and other such luxuries, but we had the greatest time. Rob and Juan had set up tents and brought stools for everyone. I helped wash up the dishes after dinner, and then Poala (co-founder of the Gaia School), Julie, Lane and I played "Guess That Person" in Spanish. (A non-english version of 20 questions). We built a massive bonfire and hung out for a while. Then it was time to go to bed, and I put my sleeping bag out next to the bonfire which by this time was dwindling. That was only after Rob put rocks around the perimeter to ensure our safety while we slept. In the morning, I ended up helping cook/serve breakfast, which consisted of eggs, more steak, fruit, bread and cereal). Then we had free time for a while, before playing games. We played- find the plastic spoon in the middle of a forest; retrieve your torch from the top of a hill, and cross-dressing. Lunch was sandwiches, so there was little to prepare. After that, we cleaned up camp and headed by to El Copihue. We had been placed in classes based on our Spanish ability a few days before--- I was in advanced. Fun stuff.
There's SOOOO MUCH MORE to tell, but I am exhausted after being on a plane/in airports for 12 hours. But I'll leave you with some funny quotes from Chile:
"Chile is a cross between Johnston County and the O.C., divided by friendly-looking mountains that really have prickly plants." -Marsha, 3-21-05
"I think I just pulled half a tree out of my pants." -Marsha 3-20-05
"Quesodillas son una mezcla de queso y pesadillas." -Paola 3-20-05 (Translated: Quesodillas are a mix of cheese and nightmares.)
Me: Why are there so many dogs running around Chile?
Mr. Slattery: The Catholic Church
"Super-mega-bacan." -Everyone said it at some point. "Bacan" = "cool"
"Five naked people, in my bed, smoking crack." -Someone, who shall remain nameless (only, none of that actually happened...) <-- but I agree, it was the prank to beat all pranks.
Mr. Slattery: Go pick up all the caca and put it in the trash.
Kit: But Mr. Slattery, you're too big to pick up.
Me: Habla con la mano.
Mr. Slattery: Es mejor como tu cara.
(Translation: Me: Talk to the hand. Mr. Slattery: It's better than your face.)
More to come! And pictures too!
Wow. Amazing. Incredible. Once-in-a-lifetime. Beautiful. Breath-taking. Wow.
Chile was awesome. We had fun on the plane up there--- even though I got to sit next to Slattery and mom on both the flights down to Santiago. We arrived like two hours later than scheduled. Once down there, Roberto and Juan greeted us at the airport, immediately talking to me (since they knew me from last year) in Spanish. (yeah, that threw me off at first). The Tampa Prep kids, Birmingham kids and RCHS kids all boarded two buses. I was under the impression on our two and a half hour ride to Olmue that Robert thinks highly of me...he was already calling me "hija mia" (my daughter) before we had been on the bus an hour. We headed to that quiet, little village called Olmue. Such a peaceful place (until all the villagers decide to celebrate Easter by getting drunk and smoking pot-- and talking on non-existent cell phones, don't ask). But it was fun. We toured El Copihue, the five-star hotel where we stayed. The first day was mostly a tour of the hotel area and of the surrounding village/town.
The second day, we went to an island to see penguins! Mucho fun! lol. We rode little itty-bitty boats out in the ocean, and around an island inhabited by penguins and protected by the government. Then we headed for the beach nearby where we played soccer, football and swam in the ocean. It's gorgeous. Wow.
The following day, we went camping in the Andes. Marsha can tell you all about La Montana. She and a few others went up the moutain, following animal trails. (Meanwhile, I'm swimming in the muddiest lake on earth and helping cook dinner). Apparently the mountain's plants were all thorns that looked like harmless bushes... so Marsha, Grant, Josh, Harry and a few others came back bleeding all over from the prickly enemy they encountered along the way. We were camping in some type of cow pasture because there was "caca de vaca" everywhere. Oh yeah, good times. I helped fix and serve dinner, which consisted of steak, hot-dog-type-things (choripan), salad, potatoes, fruit, chicken, and some type of vegetable/potatoe salad with mayonaise thing... Of course, there was no bathroom to speak of, no running water, and other such luxuries, but we had the greatest time. Rob and Juan had set up tents and brought stools for everyone. I helped wash up the dishes after dinner, and then Poala (co-founder of the Gaia School), Julie, Lane and I played "Guess That Person" in Spanish. (A non-english version of 20 questions). We built a massive bonfire and hung out for a while. Then it was time to go to bed, and I put my sleeping bag out next to the bonfire which by this time was dwindling. That was only after Rob put rocks around the perimeter to ensure our safety while we slept. In the morning, I ended up helping cook/serve breakfast, which consisted of eggs, more steak, fruit, bread and cereal). Then we had free time for a while, before playing games. We played- find the plastic spoon in the middle of a forest; retrieve your torch from the top of a hill, and cross-dressing. Lunch was sandwiches, so there was little to prepare. After that, we cleaned up camp and headed by to El Copihue. We had been placed in classes based on our Spanish ability a few days before--- I was in advanced. Fun stuff.
There's SOOOO MUCH MORE to tell, but I am exhausted after being on a plane/in airports for 12 hours. But I'll leave you with some funny quotes from Chile:
"Chile is a cross between Johnston County and the O.C., divided by friendly-looking mountains that really have prickly plants." -Marsha, 3-21-05
"I think I just pulled half a tree out of my pants." -Marsha 3-20-05
"Quesodillas son una mezcla de queso y pesadillas." -Paola 3-20-05 (Translated: Quesodillas are a mix of cheese and nightmares.)
Me: Why are there so many dogs running around Chile?
Mr. Slattery: The Catholic Church
"Super-mega-bacan." -Everyone said it at some point. "Bacan" = "cool"
"Five naked people, in my bed, smoking crack." -Someone, who shall remain nameless (only, none of that actually happened...) <-- but I agree, it was the prank to beat all pranks.
Mr. Slattery: Go pick up all the caca and put it in the trash.
Kit: But Mr. Slattery, you're too big to pick up.
Me: Habla con la mano.
Mr. Slattery: Es mejor como tu cara.
(Translation: Me: Talk to the hand. Mr. Slattery: It's better than your face.)
More to come! And pictures too!
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Well, I'm blogging again. It's sporadic, I know. I apologize to any of you who happen to still read this (which I would guess is about 1)
Anywayz,
I leave for Chile in 1 week! Wow I am soooo excited. IM me your address if you would like a postcard! :)
Ms. Greenwalt is leaving, but we're making her a scrapbook of pictures and such of the teachers, school, classrooms, students, clubs, etc. I'm excited about that b/c I love to scrapbook. But shush! It's a secret! No telling her!
SLA went wonderfully, and I had breakfast with Maggie, Alyson and Rachel before hand. We went to IHOP where I had their french toast (excuse me Freedom Toast. lol) It was really yummy.
I signed up for classes for next year, and I feel like a slacker, only taking three AP classes, plus one advanced one that I'll take for AP credit:
1. Adv. Statistics
2. AP European History
3. Constitutional Issues (it's advanced level and a brand-new, debate style class--- my kinda thing!)
4. Adv. Psychology (but I'm taking it for AP credit)
5. AP English 4
6. AP Spanish
On Flex day, I took an Advanced-Level Spanish Convesation Class at NCSU. It was a 6th semester class-- (junior year???)-- and it was way easy, so I'm hoping that's what Spanish will be like for me in college!
I've embarked on the infamous college search, which right now consists of three main colleges
-Meredith College
- UVA
- UNC-CH
though I am sure I will look at others before I start applying. I've heard only good things about each of these, so that makes me feel a little better.
I have also begun the tiring search for a prom dress. It's impossible. Bleh. Not that I have a date, or ticket, or plans for prom night yet, but never to early to start shopping, considering I'm probably the only girl on the face of the planet who HATES shopping.
In our "bible study"/ Raleigh Charter Christian Fellowship today, we had a guest speaker who spoke about the Second Coming of Christ. He made it sound like it could be tomorrow. It was exciting but also really kind of scary. I mean, I have that feeling of "just a little more time...let me finish up here." I thought that would be normal, or whatever, but everyone who was there thought I was weird for thinking that. I mean, I know Jesus says that he who loves his life will lose it, but it's the unknowing of how much more time I will have to do things, witness, goof off, and do other things that I always figured I would do first. Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to go to Heaven and see how awesome it is, butI have A LOT of friends and family who would be left behind if the Rapture occurred tomorrow. I guess I really don't want them to go through the seven years of turmoil and horrible things that happen if you don't get taken the first time, before Christ sets up the eternal reign on Earth. Anyway, that's just my little thought for the day. I never gave it much thought in terms of it happening in my lifetime, much less my childhood. Like, I knew it was going to happen because that's what the prophecy says. But I never figured, oh, well I guess all the stuff that's supposed to lead up to it has already happened (which I'm not sure it has... that's unclear to me), so it must be about to happen.
But I think that's part of the idea-- if we all knew when Jesus would return, we would do everything to prepare, which isn't really the point. We should be ready regardless of when it happens, and desire to further God's purpose while we are still here.
Anywayz,
I leave for Chile in 1 week! Wow I am soooo excited. IM me your address if you would like a postcard! :)
Ms. Greenwalt is leaving, but we're making her a scrapbook of pictures and such of the teachers, school, classrooms, students, clubs, etc. I'm excited about that b/c I love to scrapbook. But shush! It's a secret! No telling her!
SLA went wonderfully, and I had breakfast with Maggie, Alyson and Rachel before hand. We went to IHOP where I had their french toast (excuse me Freedom Toast. lol) It was really yummy.
I signed up for classes for next year, and I feel like a slacker, only taking three AP classes, plus one advanced one that I'll take for AP credit:
1. Adv. Statistics
2. AP European History
3. Constitutional Issues (it's advanced level and a brand-new, debate style class--- my kinda thing!)
4. Adv. Psychology (but I'm taking it for AP credit)
5. AP English 4
6. AP Spanish
On Flex day, I took an Advanced-Level Spanish Convesation Class at NCSU. It was a 6th semester class-- (junior year???)-- and it was way easy, so I'm hoping that's what Spanish will be like for me in college!
I've embarked on the infamous college search, which right now consists of three main colleges
-Meredith College
- UVA
- UNC-CH
though I am sure I will look at others before I start applying. I've heard only good things about each of these, so that makes me feel a little better.
I have also begun the tiring search for a prom dress. It's impossible. Bleh. Not that I have a date, or ticket, or plans for prom night yet, but never to early to start shopping, considering I'm probably the only girl on the face of the planet who HATES shopping.
In our "bible study"/ Raleigh Charter Christian Fellowship today, we had a guest speaker who spoke about the Second Coming of Christ. He made it sound like it could be tomorrow. It was exciting but also really kind of scary. I mean, I have that feeling of "just a little more time...let me finish up here." I thought that would be normal, or whatever, but everyone who was there thought I was weird for thinking that. I mean, I know Jesus says that he who loves his life will lose it, but it's the unknowing of how much more time I will have to do things, witness, goof off, and do other things that I always figured I would do first. Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to go to Heaven and see how awesome it is, butI have A LOT of friends and family who would be left behind if the Rapture occurred tomorrow. I guess I really don't want them to go through the seven years of turmoil and horrible things that happen if you don't get taken the first time, before Christ sets up the eternal reign on Earth. Anyway, that's just my little thought for the day. I never gave it much thought in terms of it happening in my lifetime, much less my childhood. Like, I knew it was going to happen because that's what the prophecy says. But I never figured, oh, well I guess all the stuff that's supposed to lead up to it has already happened (which I'm not sure it has... that's unclear to me), so it must be about to happen.
But I think that's part of the idea-- if we all knew when Jesus would return, we would do everything to prepare, which isn't really the point. We should be ready regardless of when it happens, and desire to further God's purpose while we are still here.
Friday, February 18, 2005
Nothing new, really.
Track has started. :)
I'm very busy with two research papers.
I'm looking for a summer job.
Ms. Greenwalt isn't coming back to RCHS next year, and I'm sad. :(
The winter formal is in a week.
I have to start looking at colleges this spring, according to my mom.
I like UNC-CH and UVA.
The trip to Chile is in 1 month.
Student Legislative Assembly-- day where we debate bills--1 week!
The yearbook is almost done!
That's about it.
I'm going to leave you with a poem that I really like.
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
-J.R.R. Tolkien
Track has started. :)
I'm very busy with two research papers.
I'm looking for a summer job.
Ms. Greenwalt isn't coming back to RCHS next year, and I'm sad. :(
The winter formal is in a week.
I have to start looking at colleges this spring, according to my mom.
I like UNC-CH and UVA.
The trip to Chile is in 1 month.
Student Legislative Assembly-- day where we debate bills--1 week!
The yearbook is almost done!
That's about it.
I'm going to leave you with a poem that I really like.
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
-J.R.R. Tolkien
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Here's my first attempt at a short story. It's called Gift of Grace. Comments are welcome!
Stepping off the small jet, our group surveyed the scene around us. We were on a mission trip in Sri Lanka after the tsunami disaster. The entire community was decimated, to the point of nonexistence.
Trees had been unanchored when their roots were washed away in the waves. Houses no longer loomed tall and proud, but lay in pieces, littering the ground. People walked along the broken roads, without shoes. Most seemed lonely and lost, as if they were sauntering through a nightmare, trying hard not to believe that this was real. Everything they owned had been swept away with the raging waters.
One local man noticed us and shouted in his native tongue. Suddenly hoards of people were rushing towards us, looks of hope in their eyes. They waved their hands and grabbed at the supplies we had for them.
My friend Jamie and I handed out bottles of water and medical kits. Everything we gave away was something I took for granted: band-aids, clean water, combs, toothpaste. These people had so little, were grateful to receive; we were so fortunate, with open hearts and an abundance to give.
We camped that night just outside a small village. In tents, with sleeping bags and rolled up sweatshirts for pillows, we would have been called rich by the people we had met during the day. The following day, we would visit a local orphanage that was established to house children who lost both parents in the devastating tsunami.
We rose early the next morning, bathing in a nearby river. We had a team meeting, where we were prepped for what we would experience. Then we gathered in a circle, held hands and I led the group in a prayer:
“Father, we come here, not to serve ourselves, but to serve You, Lord. We come that we will be humbled and more grateful for the blessings you have bestowed upon our lives. We pray for the people of Sri Lanka and of the other affected areas, that they would experience hope in You, Lord. I pray also Lord that we would be instruments of Your will, Lord, serving Your purpose. In the words of St. Francis of Assisi:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love: where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
I continued, “Give us strength today Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”
We opened our eyes and headed off to the orphanage. The infrastructure in the country had been completely destroyed and so our van was useless. But we set off on foot, without complaint.
We arrived at the orphanage an hour later to find about two hundred children flooding the corridors and small bunking quarters. They all rushed up to us, eager to see foreigners. They began talking rapidly in their language, smiling the entire time.
One little girl stood out to me. Her hair was tangled and hung around her shoulders. Her dress was probably very nice before the tsunami, but she had been wearing it now for months. Its grungy, grayish tinge lent no contrast to her dirty face. The striking thing about her was that her skin pigment was not like that of the other children. She was very clearly Caucasian, even beneath the dust. I walked over to her, where she sat in a corner of the room.
Her knees were pulled to her chest, where her chin rested on them. As I neared her, I realized there were tears on her cheeks, washing away the dirt in crooked streaks. I waved to her from about five feet away, in an attempt to see if my presence was welcome.
“Hi,” she said quietly, sniffling. I stopped cold. She spoke English.
Trying to hide my shock, I responded, “Hi. My name’s Audrey.”
“Mine’s Grace,” she told me, avoiding eye contact. “Are you from America?” She asked, now tracing an imaginary line on her knee with her index finger.
“Yep,” I said. “I’m from North Carolina.” Her eyes found mine at the recognition of a familiar place.
“Me, too,” she said. She smiled, knowing we shared a bond. Her smile quickly faded and she looked down once more. I went over and sat down cross-legged next to her. The tears began to fall again, accompanied by quiet sobs.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, genuinely concerned.
She crawled into my lap, resting her dirty head against my chest. I stroked her hair. “Shhhh. It’s okay.”
She sat back and looked at me, wondering if she could trust me. “My mommy and daddy got washed away when the big wave came. They didn’t know how to swim. That’s why they put me in swim lessons last summer, so I would know.” She paused, awaiting a reaction. I didn’t have one.
She sighed. “They’re in Heaven now, right?”
I smiled and nodded. The wave of comfort that washed over her was apparent on her face, in her eyes. “Grace,” I said, “Were you and your parents on vacation here?”
“Nope,” she said. “They were here with the church. We were supposed to leave in February because that’s when my birthday is. I was going to have a princess party at home. I can’t wait!”
It was March. I smiled at her. “That sounds like fun.” She was satisfied and hurried off to play with the other children.
One of the caregivers came over to me. “Want to take her back with you?” She asked. I almost laughed at the idea. “I’m serious,” she told me. “There are hundreds more children who are homeless and need a place to sleep. She has a U.S. citizenship; she’s free to go back to the U.S. whenever someone takes her.”
“You mean like adopt her?” I asked, my interest mounting. At twenty-six, I was married, and had a wonderful job teaching high school.
“You would fill out adoption papers upon your return to the States. She has no living relatives, to our knowledge.” She smiled and patted my shoulder. Before she turned to walk away, she added, “A real sweet girl. She needs a real good home.”
I went through the mental checklist. My husband’s and my incomes could support a child. We had been unable but very much wanting to have children. We had an extra bedroom in our house.
Grace came running over to me, beaming. In her hand was a picture she had drawn. She held it up for me. “This is me,” she told me, pointing to the smaller figure on the page. “And this is you,” she explained, pointing to the taller figure. The two people in the picture were holding hands, and there was a heart scribbled above their heads.
“That’s a beautiful picture, honey.” She beamed all the more. “Grace, would you like to come live with me?”
“You mean in the American states?” She asked.
“Yes, sweetheart. I was wondering if you wanted to come back to North Carolina with me and live with my husband and me.”
She nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, yes.” She leaned forward to hug me, when she suddenly stopped. “But wait. No. I can’t.” She shook her head and looked at me. “Sorry.”
“Why not, Grace?”
“Because my mommy and daddy would be sad that I called someone else mommy and daddy.”
“You don’t have to call us Mommy and Daddy. You can call us Audrey and Ben or whatever you like. We just want to give you a home and a princess party. You will go back to school and have new clothes and---”
She cut me off. “Okay, I want to then. But can we go to church?” I nodded. She hugged me and from that moment on, she followed me wherever I went, watching me closely.
Grace lives with my husband and me now. She loves her new school and had a princess party. She wakes up most nights screaming after a nightmare. The nightmares she describes to us are of people being washed away by “giant waves. They can’t swim,” she tells us. Grace loves to play at the park, but she won’t go near the lake. Her wounds will be tender for a long time, but the family we have begun to build together is a strong one. There is a lot of love in our household, and my husband and I thank God every day for the gift of Grace in our lives.
Stepping off the small jet, our group surveyed the scene around us. We were on a mission trip in Sri Lanka after the tsunami disaster. The entire community was decimated, to the point of nonexistence.
Trees had been unanchored when their roots were washed away in the waves. Houses no longer loomed tall and proud, but lay in pieces, littering the ground. People walked along the broken roads, without shoes. Most seemed lonely and lost, as if they were sauntering through a nightmare, trying hard not to believe that this was real. Everything they owned had been swept away with the raging waters.
One local man noticed us and shouted in his native tongue. Suddenly hoards of people were rushing towards us, looks of hope in their eyes. They waved their hands and grabbed at the supplies we had for them.
My friend Jamie and I handed out bottles of water and medical kits. Everything we gave away was something I took for granted: band-aids, clean water, combs, toothpaste. These people had so little, were grateful to receive; we were so fortunate, with open hearts and an abundance to give.
We camped that night just outside a small village. In tents, with sleeping bags and rolled up sweatshirts for pillows, we would have been called rich by the people we had met during the day. The following day, we would visit a local orphanage that was established to house children who lost both parents in the devastating tsunami.
We rose early the next morning, bathing in a nearby river. We had a team meeting, where we were prepped for what we would experience. Then we gathered in a circle, held hands and I led the group in a prayer:
“Father, we come here, not to serve ourselves, but to serve You, Lord. We come that we will be humbled and more grateful for the blessings you have bestowed upon our lives. We pray for the people of Sri Lanka and of the other affected areas, that they would experience hope in You, Lord. I pray also Lord that we would be instruments of Your will, Lord, serving Your purpose. In the words of St. Francis of Assisi:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love: where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
I continued, “Give us strength today Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”
We opened our eyes and headed off to the orphanage. The infrastructure in the country had been completely destroyed and so our van was useless. But we set off on foot, without complaint.
We arrived at the orphanage an hour later to find about two hundred children flooding the corridors and small bunking quarters. They all rushed up to us, eager to see foreigners. They began talking rapidly in their language, smiling the entire time.
One little girl stood out to me. Her hair was tangled and hung around her shoulders. Her dress was probably very nice before the tsunami, but she had been wearing it now for months. Its grungy, grayish tinge lent no contrast to her dirty face. The striking thing about her was that her skin pigment was not like that of the other children. She was very clearly Caucasian, even beneath the dust. I walked over to her, where she sat in a corner of the room.
Her knees were pulled to her chest, where her chin rested on them. As I neared her, I realized there were tears on her cheeks, washing away the dirt in crooked streaks. I waved to her from about five feet away, in an attempt to see if my presence was welcome.
“Hi,” she said quietly, sniffling. I stopped cold. She spoke English.
Trying to hide my shock, I responded, “Hi. My name’s Audrey.”
“Mine’s Grace,” she told me, avoiding eye contact. “Are you from America?” She asked, now tracing an imaginary line on her knee with her index finger.
“Yep,” I said. “I’m from North Carolina.” Her eyes found mine at the recognition of a familiar place.
“Me, too,” she said. She smiled, knowing we shared a bond. Her smile quickly faded and she looked down once more. I went over and sat down cross-legged next to her. The tears began to fall again, accompanied by quiet sobs.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, genuinely concerned.
She crawled into my lap, resting her dirty head against my chest. I stroked her hair. “Shhhh. It’s okay.”
She sat back and looked at me, wondering if she could trust me. “My mommy and daddy got washed away when the big wave came. They didn’t know how to swim. That’s why they put me in swim lessons last summer, so I would know.” She paused, awaiting a reaction. I didn’t have one.
She sighed. “They’re in Heaven now, right?”
I smiled and nodded. The wave of comfort that washed over her was apparent on her face, in her eyes. “Grace,” I said, “Were you and your parents on vacation here?”
“Nope,” she said. “They were here with the church. We were supposed to leave in February because that’s when my birthday is. I was going to have a princess party at home. I can’t wait!”
It was March. I smiled at her. “That sounds like fun.” She was satisfied and hurried off to play with the other children.
One of the caregivers came over to me. “Want to take her back with you?” She asked. I almost laughed at the idea. “I’m serious,” she told me. “There are hundreds more children who are homeless and need a place to sleep. She has a U.S. citizenship; she’s free to go back to the U.S. whenever someone takes her.”
“You mean like adopt her?” I asked, my interest mounting. At twenty-six, I was married, and had a wonderful job teaching high school.
“You would fill out adoption papers upon your return to the States. She has no living relatives, to our knowledge.” She smiled and patted my shoulder. Before she turned to walk away, she added, “A real sweet girl. She needs a real good home.”
I went through the mental checklist. My husband’s and my incomes could support a child. We had been unable but very much wanting to have children. We had an extra bedroom in our house.
Grace came running over to me, beaming. In her hand was a picture she had drawn. She held it up for me. “This is me,” she told me, pointing to the smaller figure on the page. “And this is you,” she explained, pointing to the taller figure. The two people in the picture were holding hands, and there was a heart scribbled above their heads.
“That’s a beautiful picture, honey.” She beamed all the more. “Grace, would you like to come live with me?”
“You mean in the American states?” She asked.
“Yes, sweetheart. I was wondering if you wanted to come back to North Carolina with me and live with my husband and me.”
She nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, yes.” She leaned forward to hug me, when she suddenly stopped. “But wait. No. I can’t.” She shook her head and looked at me. “Sorry.”
“Why not, Grace?”
“Because my mommy and daddy would be sad that I called someone else mommy and daddy.”
“You don’t have to call us Mommy and Daddy. You can call us Audrey and Ben or whatever you like. We just want to give you a home and a princess party. You will go back to school and have new clothes and---”
She cut me off. “Okay, I want to then. But can we go to church?” I nodded. She hugged me and from that moment on, she followed me wherever I went, watching me closely.
Grace lives with my husband and me now. She loves her new school and had a princess party. She wakes up most nights screaming after a nightmare. The nightmares she describes to us are of people being washed away by “giant waves. They can’t swim,” she tells us. Grace loves to play at the park, but she won’t go near the lake. Her wounds will be tender for a long time, but the family we have begun to build together is a strong one. There is a lot of love in our household, and my husband and I thank God every day for the gift of Grace in our lives.
Monday, January 31, 2005
It has come to my attention, unfortuneately (or maybe fortuneately for all you readers...who number probably two, tops) that I do not write anything substantial on my blog and it often is just the result of incoherent ramblings on my part. On that note, two things: One, I apologize. Two, I plan to fix that (though I might forget and publish something worthwhile once!) Anyway, I'm thinking maybe it would be a good idea to separate each of my posts into sections: life, politics, news, ramblings, God, etc.
Life: Well, I am currently brainstorming ideas for the Wade Edwards Short Fiction writing contest. Ideas are more than welcome and greatly appreciated. I love to write, though most of my drafts and compositions end up in some hidden folder on my harddrive. (so much for a novel, I suppose). IM me if you want to contribute an idea for the fiction contest. I'm still attempting to get out of APBIO. My doctor wrote me a note saying it was causing me "undue stress" and I honestly think that things would have been oh so much simpler if my teacher had just agreed to let me switch out when I asked back in October. It's not that I'm lazy or don't want to do the work, or that it's even too hard. The honest truth is that I have missed 19 days this year, and keeping up in a class like that (where upwards of 90% of the curriculum must be explained by a teacher) it's impossible to keep up. Maybe I need a tutor...hmmm...yeah, I bet my mom would pay for that. :)
Politics: The elections in Iraq seem to have been a fairly decent success, with around 40 casualties (not that that's good, per se, but it's better than expected). And apparently voter turnout (of all eligible voters) was higher than it is here...now I think that's sad. I also think it was interesting how they made ordinances saying that Xpercentage of the candidates had to be female. It would be interesting for us to do that in America: Xpercent must be this race, or that race, or female, or homosexual, or affiliated with such and such a religion. (Not that it'll go over really well, but what if...?)
Ramblings: I'm frustrated in English class right now because there are about three people who talk incessantly whenever we have class discussions...like it's only those three who ever get a chance to talk. There are about five of us who raise our hands and wait to be called on, but the teacher never gets a chance to call on us, and doesn't when she has the chance. It's very frustrating. And even when I get my 10 seconds in the 45 min period, my ideas or opinions are shot down by those three people. I love english, but loathe that class b/c I think it's the teacher's duty to maintain some type of order in the classroom and give everyone a fair chance to talk.
God: I highly recommend this book. My alltime favorite line in there is something like "I made you," he said, "and I don't make mistakes." One of my youth leaders gave it to me, and I read it every night because it makes me truly feel like I am a special, unique creation of God, and that He didn't just close His eyes and create me without thought or process. It was on purpose! That's soooo cool, to me. I also like this quote from Psalms:
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."—Ps 139:14
News: Funny how Michael Jackson managed to make headlines when such a monumental change was happening in Iraq...maybe that's just me.
We read a really cool book about the Cold War (by Dr. Seuss) in 20th Century History today. It's called The Butter Battle Book. Here is the editorial review:
A cautionary Cold War tale (first told by Dr. Seuss back in 1984), The Butter Battle Book still has a lot to teach about intolerance and how tit-for-tat violence can quickly get out of hand. Explaining the very serious differences between the Zooks and the Yooks, a Zook grandpa tells his grandchild the unspeakable truth: "It's high time that you knew of the terribly horrible thing that Zooks do. In every Zook house and every Zook town every Zook eats his bread with the butter side down!" He then recalls his days with the Zook-Watching Border Patrol, as he gave any Zook who dared come close "a twitch with my tough-tufted prickley Snick-Berry Switch." But when the Zooks fought back, the switches gave way to Triple-Sling Jiggers, then Jigger-Rock Snatchems--even a Kick-a-Poo Kid that was "loaded with powerful Poo-a-Doo Powder and ants' eggs and bees' legs and dried-fried clam chowder."
With lots of fun and more-than-fair digs at the runaway spending and one-upmanship of U.S.-Soviet days, The Butter Battle Book makes a chuckle-filled read whether you're old enough to get the historical references or not. (And with all the Bitsy Big-Boy Boomeroos still in service, this book's message is far from obsolete.) (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes
It was soooo good.
Okay, my incoherent ramblings are hopefully a little more coherent (though certainly not succint!) Again, ideas for the Wade Edwards Short Fiction are more than welcome and greatly appreciated.
Life: Well, I am currently brainstorming ideas for the Wade Edwards Short Fiction writing contest. Ideas are more than welcome and greatly appreciated. I love to write, though most of my drafts and compositions end up in some hidden folder on my harddrive. (so much for a novel, I suppose). IM me if you want to contribute an idea for the fiction contest. I'm still attempting to get out of APBIO. My doctor wrote me a note saying it was causing me "undue stress" and I honestly think that things would have been oh so much simpler if my teacher had just agreed to let me switch out when I asked back in October. It's not that I'm lazy or don't want to do the work, or that it's even too hard. The honest truth is that I have missed 19 days this year, and keeping up in a class like that (where upwards of 90% of the curriculum must be explained by a teacher) it's impossible to keep up. Maybe I need a tutor...hmmm...yeah, I bet my mom would pay for that. :)
Politics: The elections in Iraq seem to have been a fairly decent success, with around 40 casualties (not that that's good, per se, but it's better than expected). And apparently voter turnout (of all eligible voters) was higher than it is here...now I think that's sad. I also think it was interesting how they made ordinances saying that Xpercentage of the candidates had to be female. It would be interesting for us to do that in America: Xpercent must be this race, or that race, or female, or homosexual, or affiliated with such and such a religion. (Not that it'll go over really well, but what if...?)
Ramblings: I'm frustrated in English class right now because there are about three people who talk incessantly whenever we have class discussions...like it's only those three who ever get a chance to talk. There are about five of us who raise our hands and wait to be called on, but the teacher never gets a chance to call on us, and doesn't when she has the chance. It's very frustrating. And even when I get my 10 seconds in the 45 min period, my ideas or opinions are shot down by those three people. I love english, but loathe that class b/c I think it's the teacher's duty to maintain some type of order in the classroom and give everyone a fair chance to talk.
God: I highly recommend this book. My alltime favorite line in there is something like "I made you," he said, "and I don't make mistakes." One of my youth leaders gave it to me, and I read it every night because it makes me truly feel like I am a special, unique creation of God, and that He didn't just close His eyes and create me without thought or process. It was on purpose! That's soooo cool, to me. I also like this quote from Psalms:
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."—Ps 139:14
News: Funny how Michael Jackson managed to make headlines when such a monumental change was happening in Iraq...maybe that's just me.
We read a really cool book about the Cold War (by Dr. Seuss) in 20th Century History today. It's called The Butter Battle Book. Here is the editorial review:
A cautionary Cold War tale (first told by Dr. Seuss back in 1984), The Butter Battle Book still has a lot to teach about intolerance and how tit-for-tat violence can quickly get out of hand. Explaining the very serious differences between the Zooks and the Yooks, a Zook grandpa tells his grandchild the unspeakable truth: "It's high time that you knew of the terribly horrible thing that Zooks do. In every Zook house and every Zook town every Zook eats his bread with the butter side down!" He then recalls his days with the Zook-Watching Border Patrol, as he gave any Zook who dared come close "a twitch with my tough-tufted prickley Snick-Berry Switch." But when the Zooks fought back, the switches gave way to Triple-Sling Jiggers, then Jigger-Rock Snatchems--even a Kick-a-Poo Kid that was "loaded with powerful Poo-a-Doo Powder and ants' eggs and bees' legs and dried-fried clam chowder."
With lots of fun and more-than-fair digs at the runaway spending and one-upmanship of U.S.-Soviet days, The Butter Battle Book makes a chuckle-filled read whether you're old enough to get the historical references or not. (And with all the Bitsy Big-Boy Boomeroos still in service, this book's message is far from obsolete.) (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes
It was soooo good.
Okay, my incoherent ramblings are hopefully a little more coherent (though certainly not succint!) Again, ideas for the Wade Edwards Short Fiction are more than welcome and greatly appreciated.
Saturday, January 29, 2005
I went to Metamorphosis this weekend. I guess I should explain what exactly it is. We went to the church about 7pm and were dismissed from there. All the high school girls and our three leaders went to Annie Hoyle's house. Once there, we played some random version of "2 truths and a lie," followed by a study of consolation and desolation, how they affect us, etc. Then we played around a little more, and watched Raising Helen. Then we finally went to bed around 2am. (SOOOO much fun!) We woke at 8am and ate a marvelous breakfast of plain and choco-chip pancakes, cooked with love by the Hoyles. After breakfast we headed back upstairs to have another devotional. This one was about reflection, images, feelings, and action. After that, we packed up a little and headed to the church. We went through a prayer labrinth, which is basically about 11 steps with different topics at each station. You can pray, talk to, commune, listen to God. After each of us finished the prayer labrinth, we went to the foyer of the church where we could paint and make a collage on a big piece of canvas. It was really cool. Lee (my wonderful high school leader) helped me cut out individual letter for "FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE." That phrase stuck with me the most of everything in the prayer labrinth. I also painted a hand on the canvas that said "Hands to work, Hearts to God" above it. The canvas looked great when we were all finished. Then we got back in our cars (oh yeah, i rode with Lee everytime) and headed back to the Hoyle's house, where we had a wonderful lunch of homemade chili, sandwiches, fruit, and chips. Perfect for a cold day. We had a final session where we talked about Levicia Divina (Holy/divine words) and how to interpret or best understand it. Then we headed back to the church where we met up with the high school guys and went to go bowling. Emma, Stephanie, Meredith, Diane, Lee and I were all on a "team" or "lane." I'm not so good at bowling, but I'm super glad we had bumpers up! lol. I think I made the ball bounce a couple of times instead of rolling it, and I know taht twice I set the ball down at the beginning of the lane and tapped it. It was fun to watch it go so slowly. I like bowling with the five aforementioned people because they're ok (and not embarassed) about me goofing off and they are really encouraging. It was so much fun. Lee is awesome, cause I was having kind of a hard afternoon and she was really nice about it. Then we went back to the church and played Catch Phrase and waited for our parents to pick us up.
Things I learned this weekend (some serious, some not so...)
"Don't hate,
Eat a marshmellow"
18 girls and one bathroom don't mix lol
I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
I am God's creation, and God doesn't make mistakes!
Lee sure knows how to put on bandaids really well!
God has his own time, and is not limited to or bound
by the restraits we place on ourselves and our world.
He'll answer "on-time." It's like a song I heard once,
"He never failed us and won't start now.
It may not come when you want it
but he'll be there right on time,
He's an on time God O yes he is!"
I have the greatest friends and leaders at youth group! :)
Thanks, guys.
Not much else is happening. I'm busy busy with upcoming track, and newspaper, environmental club, RCCF, Spanish Club, Spanish tutoring, school work, and an upcoming Spanish competition. *scary* And of course, I have to take the SAT, the SAT IIs, and the ACT. And I need to start looking at colleges. On my list currently are: UNC-CH, UNC-Charlotte, George Washington University, Bryan College, Meredith College. I'm also looking a little at Georgetown, Agnes Scott, American, and UNC-Asheville and possibly NCSU.
Later all.
Things I learned this weekend (some serious, some not so...)
"Don't hate,
Eat a marshmellow"
18 girls and one bathroom don't mix lol
I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
I am God's creation, and God doesn't make mistakes!
Lee sure knows how to put on bandaids really well!
God has his own time, and is not limited to or bound
by the restraits we place on ourselves and our world.
He'll answer "on-time." It's like a song I heard once,
"He never failed us and won't start now.
It may not come when you want it
but he'll be there right on time,
He's an on time God O yes he is!"
I have the greatest friends and leaders at youth group! :)
Thanks, guys.
Not much else is happening. I'm busy busy with upcoming track, and newspaper, environmental club, RCCF, Spanish Club, Spanish tutoring, school work, and an upcoming Spanish competition. *scary* And of course, I have to take the SAT, the SAT IIs, and the ACT. And I need to start looking at colleges. On my list currently are: UNC-CH, UNC-Charlotte, George Washington University, Bryan College, Meredith College. I'm also looking a little at Georgetown, Agnes Scott, American, and UNC-Asheville and possibly NCSU.
Later all.
Sunday, January 23, 2005
What to say?
I was sooo impressed. Raleigh NC had gone since the beginning of school w/o a hurricane or ice or snow or any other inclement weather. We hadn't missed one day of school. Then BAM! We have this ice-snow stuff that coats the ground. They let us out of RCHS (and Wake CO, too I think) around 1:10, and the roads are clogged until all hours. Our fifteen minute drive turned into hours upon hours. We missed school the next day (thursday) but returned on Friday. Winter Formal was supposed to be on Saturday, and we were all very excited all day on Saturday b/c the weather hadn't appeared as forecasted, so it looked like we would have our dance. I got my hair done, my nails done, and was at Elizabeth's house around 5:45 when we checked the website. THE DANCE WAS CANCELLED. I hope it'll be rescheduled. It really is a bummer. But I had fun at Elizabeth's anyway, even with my hair that had so much hairspray in it. Elizabeth said it felt like cement. I agree.
In other news, I got to talk to Mark online. That was really nice. I never get to see/talk to him anymore, and it's sad. But we had a very nice chat and we'll hopefully get together again soon.
I have two ten-page research papers to finish by March, which is kinda stressful. One's for AP U.S. History and one's for 20th Century History. For the former, I'm doing a paper on the changes in interpretation (by the Supreme Court) of the Commerce Clause. As for the latter, I'm not sure about a topic yet. Ms. Greenwalt and i are planning to discuss it on Monday.
Environmental club is going splendidly. We're planning an afterschool movie for the school, and a raffle as well. We're trying to reinstigate white-paper recycling, but the teachers don't seem all that enthusiastic.
It's almost 2:30am, so I'm gonna head to bed. The wind is pretty rough right now. Worrisome.
I was sooo impressed. Raleigh NC had gone since the beginning of school w/o a hurricane or ice or snow or any other inclement weather. We hadn't missed one day of school. Then BAM! We have this ice-snow stuff that coats the ground. They let us out of RCHS (and Wake CO, too I think) around 1:10, and the roads are clogged until all hours. Our fifteen minute drive turned into hours upon hours. We missed school the next day (thursday) but returned on Friday. Winter Formal was supposed to be on Saturday, and we were all very excited all day on Saturday b/c the weather hadn't appeared as forecasted, so it looked like we would have our dance. I got my hair done, my nails done, and was at Elizabeth's house around 5:45 when we checked the website. THE DANCE WAS CANCELLED. I hope it'll be rescheduled. It really is a bummer. But I had fun at Elizabeth's anyway, even with my hair that had so much hairspray in it. Elizabeth said it felt like cement. I agree.
In other news, I got to talk to Mark online. That was really nice. I never get to see/talk to him anymore, and it's sad. But we had a very nice chat and we'll hopefully get together again soon.
I have two ten-page research papers to finish by March, which is kinda stressful. One's for AP U.S. History and one's for 20th Century History. For the former, I'm doing a paper on the changes in interpretation (by the Supreme Court) of the Commerce Clause. As for the latter, I'm not sure about a topic yet. Ms. Greenwalt and i are planning to discuss it on Monday.
Environmental club is going splendidly. We're planning an afterschool movie for the school, and a raffle as well. We're trying to reinstigate white-paper recycling, but the teachers don't seem all that enthusiastic.
It's almost 2:30am, so I'm gonna head to bed. The wind is pretty rough right now. Worrisome.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
So, let's see. What to update about?
Well, we painted my room. It's got bright yellow walls, with an aqua bookshelf, a purple bookshelf and orange beams across the ceiling. Yeah, I'm nuts.
I missed an entire week of school last week with strept throat. But it was cool b/c I got to hang out with my mom all day.
I got called some pretty bad names at school today for no real reason, except that kids can be real jerks. It's hard because I want so much to not let myself be bothered by it, but it still hurts. You always grow up hearing that it doesn't matter what people think of you, only what you think of yourself. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me." Yeah, except when you get called names like Whore and such. Mr. Slattery saw it all happen, and he sort of chastised them for it, but I think he felt really bad, because after they walked away, he was like "Lindsay? You ok?" Well, even if I wasn't, I wouldn't admit it. I'm seventeen years old and nothing is supposed to bother me anymore. ARGH.
I just cling to these pieces of advice:
"The Lord will fight for you. All you have to do is stand still." -Exodus 14:14
"Blood isn't always thicker than water." -Clay Aiken's mom, Faye Parker
"Use disappointment as material for patience." -Faye Parker
"Que sera, sera." (Whatever happens, happens).
Well, we painted my room. It's got bright yellow walls, with an aqua bookshelf, a purple bookshelf and orange beams across the ceiling. Yeah, I'm nuts.
I missed an entire week of school last week with strept throat. But it was cool b/c I got to hang out with my mom all day.
I got called some pretty bad names at school today for no real reason, except that kids can be real jerks. It's hard because I want so much to not let myself be bothered by it, but it still hurts. You always grow up hearing that it doesn't matter what people think of you, only what you think of yourself. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me." Yeah, except when you get called names like Whore and such. Mr. Slattery saw it all happen, and he sort of chastised them for it, but I think he felt really bad, because after they walked away, he was like "Lindsay? You ok?" Well, even if I wasn't, I wouldn't admit it. I'm seventeen years old and nothing is supposed to bother me anymore. ARGH.
I just cling to these pieces of advice:
"The Lord will fight for you. All you have to do is stand still." -Exodus 14:14
"Blood isn't always thicker than water." -Clay Aiken's mom, Faye Parker
"Use disappointment as material for patience." -Faye Parker
"Que sera, sera." (Whatever happens, happens).
Monday, January 03, 2005
| You Know You're Addicted to Friends When... |
| You named your cats Chandler and Phoebe
You have had dreams where you're the seventh Friend. You *seriously* consider naming your future daughter Emma. You can tell within 10 seconds of the beginning of the episodes exactly which one it is - and you can instantly remember what will happen. You can't go one day without a Friends reference. You are forever writing scripts for a Friends movie and sending them in (even if you have received several thousand rejection letters) Your favourite words are - Doi, Yuh-hu and Nu-uh You only ever buy magazines because they have something to do with FRIENDS in them You get your hair cut like Jennifer Aniston's (even if it looks terrible on you) You are able to perfectly re-enact every episode line-by-line You are always refering to real life incidents as 'The One With......' You have made a soundtrack out of all of Phoebe's songs and you listen to it all day long You've taped every episode of FRIENDS since the very first one, and watch the tapes continually You refuse to drink any beverage (especially coffee/tea) if it isn't served in one of the cups like the ones they have at Central Perk You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends who are addicted to Friends. |
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| Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic Intelligence |
You would make a fantastic poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, or translator. |
| Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic Intelligence |
You would make a fantastic poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, or translator. |
| Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic Intelligence |
You would make a fantastic poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, or translator. |
So I decided to post again. I got the "throw-up bug" for the second time in four months! That's a record for me. Before October, I hadn't had it for ten years or so. And then all of the sudden on New Years Eve (approx. 12am or so) I ring in the new year with some unpleasant symptoms. Lol. Both times this year, I got the bug from babysitting, the first from one family and the second time from a different family. Both, however had in common a one-year-old (coincidentally named Lily in both cases) who was sick the week before. I'm better now, and thankful for my health! :)
Vignettes are progressing ever so slowly. The more I try to work, the more annoyed I get. Partly at the assignment and partly at the emotions it provokes. I mean, who wants to write about scenes from their life. If all I write about are the fluffy parts, my teacher may grade down for "lack of interest," etc. Oh well.
Funny things my sister has said:
Me: I have a pin number. You don't. Haha.
Her: So what? I have a social security number! Haha.
Me: **rolls eyes**
Her: If people don't have a social security number do they not exist? (trouble is, she was serious)
Her: Is UNICEF about testicular cancer, cause it has "uni" in the name, so I thought there was maybe just one.
Her: Mom, if you don't take care of us, I'm turning you into Social Security (of course, she meant social services...but hey...services . security. what's the diff?)
My mom: That woman is so mean.
Me: yeah, she's a witch
Mom: More like a witch with a B
My sister: You mean B*witched?
^of course, that wasn't quite what we meant
My sister: Lindsay! Guess what? I made a new song for Clay.
Me: Really? What is it?
Her: "Don we now our gay apparel."
(yeah, I wasn't amused by this. Leave clay alone!)
That's my sister for ya. :)
In other news: I love law and order SVU. Olivia (Mariska Hagarty) and Elliot (Christopher Meloni) are my favorites! I also love Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. I always cry during that one.
New Years Resolutions:
- Get along with my sister better
- Continue vegetarianism
- Love more, hope more, dream more, and cry less
Life Goals:
- Cure AIDS, Cancer, ALS, etc
- Change the world/save lives
- Be a part of Doctors without Borders or the Mercy Corps or the Peace Corps
- Teach School
-Run for president
- Get married
- Have a family
- Publish a book
Vignettes are progressing ever so slowly. The more I try to work, the more annoyed I get. Partly at the assignment and partly at the emotions it provokes. I mean, who wants to write about scenes from their life. If all I write about are the fluffy parts, my teacher may grade down for "lack of interest," etc. Oh well.
Funny things my sister has said:
Me: I have a pin number. You don't. Haha.
Her: So what? I have a social security number! Haha.
Me: **rolls eyes**
Her: If people don't have a social security number do they not exist? (trouble is, she was serious)
Her: Is UNICEF about testicular cancer, cause it has "uni" in the name, so I thought there was maybe just one.
Her: Mom, if you don't take care of us, I'm turning you into Social Security (of course, she meant social services...but hey...services . security. what's the diff?)
My mom: That woman is so mean.
Me: yeah, she's a witch
Mom: More like a witch with a B
My sister: You mean B*witched?
^of course, that wasn't quite what we meant
My sister: Lindsay! Guess what? I made a new song for Clay.
Me: Really? What is it?
Her: "Don we now our gay apparel."
(yeah, I wasn't amused by this. Leave clay alone!)
That's my sister for ya. :)
In other news: I love law and order SVU. Olivia (Mariska Hagarty) and Elliot (Christopher Meloni) are my favorites! I also love Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. I always cry during that one.
New Years Resolutions:
- Get along with my sister better
- Continue vegetarianism
- Love more, hope more, dream more, and cry less
Life Goals:
- Cure AIDS, Cancer, ALS, etc
- Change the world/save lives
- Be a part of Doctors without Borders or the Mercy Corps or the Peace Corps
- Teach School
-Run for president
- Get married
- Have a family
- Publish a book
Monday, December 27, 2004
It's winter break! Yay. Finally. I swear Junior year is harder than they told us it would be, and most of all...I HATE AP BIO! I want out of that class sooooo bad, but unfortuneately, my teacher is also in charge of schoolwide scheduling and doesn't think there is any reason for me to switch classes. UGH. (How bout these reasons: 1) I don't understand the material; 2) The teacher doesn't teach; 3) Everyone else in the class is as miserable as I am; 4) I have given up medical school dreams after only a semester in this course...pretty bad huh?; 5) It is causing me unnecessary stress; 6) The class isn't even required. In fact, I've completed all three science requirements for graduation! So there.)
Moving right along. I have been lazy all during break. I went running, played some bball, shopped, etc. I have yet to complete my 10 page outline for my AP U.S. History paper on the Commerce Clause, and have definitely barely started my "book" I'm supposed to write for English. It's supposed to be a book of vingettes, like The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros. Vingettes are little 3-4page snipets of episodes from your life. Here's my list of 7, so far:
1. My name (it's required), COMPLETED
2. Moving (11 houses in 16 years...) 1/2 way done
3. Alicia (no comment) Hard to write about
4. Hope, my kitty kitty. ALMOST DONE
5. Chile (yeah...need I say more?) 1/2 way done
6. Something else
7. Something else
^Yeah, I'm not too good at this, I know.
I had a splendid Christmas, and before that I had a wonderful 17th birthday. I got lots of clothes at both houses, but at my dad's house all my clothes that my stepmom picked out were at least three sizes too large...clearly not fitting. That kind of made me more concious than I wish I was about my "size." In fact, one shirt was a layered one with a three-quarter length sleeved shirt sewed on top of a full-lengthed sleeved shirt. The shirt was so large that the 3/4 length sleeves were regular length and the regularlength sleeves hung about six inches below my fingers. The shirt could have been a dress. Yeah, I was pretty upset because it made me feel bad. She was like it'll shrink. I was thinking, Lady, it's a size XXL, I need a medium...don't think it's gonna shrink that much. Plus my stepbrother told me I was fat, and when I told him I didn't appreciate the comment, he said, "well if the truth hurts..." I was really hurt. Then my stepmom told me to get over it, that I was making him cry because I was upset, and that I was ruining everyone's Christmas. Oh well. Such is the life with step families.
Onto bigger and better things, Chile is in a little over three months! I am sooooo excited. Claudio finally emailed me, and said he was always thinking about me and that he can't wait to see me in March...no worries. Long distance romances (since this isn't even close to one) never work out.
Moving right along. I have been lazy all during break. I went running, played some bball, shopped, etc. I have yet to complete my 10 page outline for my AP U.S. History paper on the Commerce Clause, and have definitely barely started my "book" I'm supposed to write for English. It's supposed to be a book of vingettes, like The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros. Vingettes are little 3-4page snipets of episodes from your life. Here's my list of 7, so far:
1. My name (it's required), COMPLETED
2. Moving (11 houses in 16 years...) 1/2 way done
3. Alicia (no comment) Hard to write about
4. Hope, my kitty kitty. ALMOST DONE
5. Chile (yeah...need I say more?) 1/2 way done
6. Something else
7. Something else
^Yeah, I'm not too good at this, I know.
I had a splendid Christmas, and before that I had a wonderful 17th birthday. I got lots of clothes at both houses, but at my dad's house all my clothes that my stepmom picked out were at least three sizes too large...clearly not fitting. That kind of made me more concious than I wish I was about my "size." In fact, one shirt was a layered one with a three-quarter length sleeved shirt sewed on top of a full-lengthed sleeved shirt. The shirt was so large that the 3/4 length sleeves were regular length and the regularlength sleeves hung about six inches below my fingers. The shirt could have been a dress. Yeah, I was pretty upset because it made me feel bad. She was like it'll shrink. I was thinking, Lady, it's a size XXL, I need a medium...don't think it's gonna shrink that much. Plus my stepbrother told me I was fat, and when I told him I didn't appreciate the comment, he said, "well if the truth hurts..." I was really hurt. Then my stepmom told me to get over it, that I was making him cry because I was upset, and that I was ruining everyone's Christmas. Oh well. Such is the life with step families.
Onto bigger and better things, Chile is in a little over three months! I am sooooo excited. Claudio finally emailed me, and said he was always thinking about me and that he can't wait to see me in March...no worries. Long distance romances (since this isn't even close to one) never work out.
Monday, December 20, 2004
People (and grade) who are going to Chile:
1. Me (Junior)
2. Sherby (Freshman)
3. Denise (Freshman)
4. Taylor (Soph)
5. Bayleigh (Junior)
6. Michelle (Junior)
7. Marsha (Super-cool senior)
8. Kit (Super-cool senior)
9. Grant (Junior)
10. Casey (Soph)
11. Josh (Soph)
12. Julie (Senior)
13. Julie (Junior)
14. Claire (Fresh)
15. Jeremy (Senior)
16. Mark (Junior)
17. Danny (Soph...I think that's his name...)
Pretty cool group...I'm excited. :)
In other news:
The final multiple choice question on my 20th Century Topics Exam:
50. All of the following are true EXCEPT:
a. I am tired
b. I am in room 304
c. I love Ms. Greenwalt's tests. They make me happy.
d. I have two exams left to go.
e. All are true.
Ummm...can we say subjective. Obviously, b and d were true. A could sorta be true, and C was definitely NOT true! We all loathe her exams, but she doesn't care! We love her, though! Anyway, I cautiously put down E. :)
1. Me (Junior)
2. Sherby (Freshman)
3. Denise (Freshman)
4. Taylor (Soph)
5. Bayleigh (Junior)
6. Michelle (Junior)
7. Marsha (Super-cool senior)
8. Kit (Super-cool senior)
9. Grant (Junior)
10. Casey (Soph)
11. Josh (Soph)
12. Julie (Senior)
13. Julie (Junior)
14. Claire (Fresh)
15. Jeremy (Senior)
16. Mark (Junior)
17. Danny (Soph...I think that's his name...)
Pretty cool group...I'm excited. :)
In other news:
The final multiple choice question on my 20th Century Topics Exam:
50. All of the following are true EXCEPT:
a. I am tired
b. I am in room 304
c. I love Ms. Greenwalt's tests. They make me happy.
d. I have two exams left to go.
e. All are true.
Ummm...can we say subjective. Obviously, b and d were true. A could sorta be true, and C was definitely NOT true! We all loathe her exams, but she doesn't care! We love her, though! Anyway, I cautiously put down E. :)
Friday, December 17, 2004
Well, I'm going back to Chile over spring break. It should be tons of fun and I can't wait to learn more spanish! My current hopeful majors are: Spanish and some history, with a minor in English or environmental studies. (no, i am not doing a double major/double minor combo! ha. like that would happen)
I'm currently engrossed in a major research paper for APUSH. It's about the changes that have occurred in the interpretation of the Commerce Clause since it was passed in the late 19th century. It's quite uneventful. Oh well.
In other news, I had my first two exams today: Spanish 4 and English 3. (funny how I'm a year ahead in my second language...hehe) They went ok. I highly recommend you click here. It is one of the most touching things I've seen in awhile and a good reminder around this time of year (and always). Have a great holiday, everyone.
I'm currently engrossed in a major research paper for APUSH. It's about the changes that have occurred in the interpretation of the Commerce Clause since it was passed in the late 19th century. It's quite uneventful. Oh well.
In other news, I had my first two exams today: Spanish 4 and English 3. (funny how I'm a year ahead in my second language...hehe) They went ok. I highly recommend you click here. It is one of the most touching things I've seen in awhile and a good reminder around this time of year (and always). Have a great holiday, everyone.
Friday, November 26, 2004
Well, I got my hair cut today...It's short-er. That's for sure. It's not even shoulder length anymore. :( And to think I've worked all these months to have long hair (not that it was that long...but it was beyond my shoulders...not that it matters, it just goes back into a ponytail all the time...the tragedy of being a dancer/athlete) Anyway, the lady straightened it...so for the first time in years I have straight hair. It's amazing. I can't even describe how it looks, or how nice it feels not to have hair that is full of body and curly...bleh. I have noticed that my hair changes considerably during the year. In the summer is slowly approaches a blondish tone/highlight, while now, it is back to its original reddish, blah color. And, yes, I am not fond of my hair. I do like it right now because it is oh-so straight. And, for the first time is forever, it seems, I have that indescribable joy of being able to constantly tuck my hair behind my ears, which I am doing a lot of right now.
In honor of Turkey Day, I am going to post a list of things I am thankful for, though it will be obviously incomplete...how could I ever list all my blessings, as they are so abundant???!!!!
-the ever-present, housing, clothing, etc
-my school and all the accompanying lovely aspects
-my family and friends
-the youth program at my church which has (to say the least) changed my life
-health
-the rain b/c it makes me much more appreciative of the sunshine
-LIFE
-Jesus (need I say more???? *grin*)
-and so much more. It all just sounds so well...odd: Like, I'm thankful for all the suffering and pain I experience b/c it makes me grow and because the good times are not taken for granted
In other news, my youth leader, Carlye (bottom picture on left...) is pregnant with her first child, a boy!!! How cool is that?!?! I guess, Riley (the two year old seen in the right hand picture on the above link--she's being led by some youth off to the right, and her parents are pictured with the stroller) can't name the baby Lulu like she wanted to. Oh well.
I'm looking for a dance or gymnastics school to take classes at. So far score: Me: 0. My frustration: 1000000. I just wanna dance. Anyways.
Cultural fair is coming up this friday. Mica and I are doing a booth on Chile!!! Wooo. GO CHILE. Oh yeah, I'm going back this year!!!! YAY! I can't wait. I'm on their website here. (move your mouse over the picture of the dog, and I appear.) The dog in the picture with me is my newfound friend Perrita (or puppy, in English). She and I made friends on the beach one day, and I taught her (in Spanish) to sit, shake, stay, and come. A great accomplishment for a stray!!!! She must be really smart (or maybe it was the treats!!! hehe). I can't wait to go back! And this is my testimonial about my wonderful experience there~
In honor of Turkey Day, I am going to post a list of things I am thankful for, though it will be obviously incomplete...how could I ever list all my blessings, as they are so abundant???!!!!
-the ever-present, housing, clothing, etc
-my school and all the accompanying lovely aspects
-my family and friends
-the youth program at my church which has (to say the least) changed my life
-health
-the rain b/c it makes me much more appreciative of the sunshine
-LIFE
-Jesus (need I say more???? *grin*)
-and so much more. It all just sounds so well...odd: Like, I'm thankful for all the suffering and pain I experience b/c it makes me grow and because the good times are not taken for granted
In other news, my youth leader, Carlye (bottom picture on left...) is pregnant with her first child, a boy!!! How cool is that?!?! I guess, Riley (the two year old seen in the right hand picture on the above link--she's being led by some youth off to the right, and her parents are pictured with the stroller) can't name the baby Lulu like she wanted to. Oh well.
I'm looking for a dance or gymnastics school to take classes at. So far score: Me: 0. My frustration: 1000000. I just wanna dance. Anyways.
Cultural fair is coming up this friday. Mica and I are doing a booth on Chile!!! Wooo. GO CHILE. Oh yeah, I'm going back this year!!!! YAY! I can't wait. I'm on their website here. (move your mouse over the picture of the dog, and I appear.) The dog in the picture with me is my newfound friend Perrita (or puppy, in English). She and I made friends on the beach one day, and I taught her (in Spanish) to sit, shake, stay, and come. A great accomplishment for a stray!!!! She must be really smart (or maybe it was the treats!!! hehe). I can't wait to go back! And this is my testimonial about my wonderful experience there~
Monday, November 22, 2004
Well, I have to tell you all about my wonderful D.C. trip! It was splendid! I went to school Thursday and had an absolutely wonderful Environmental Club meeting! I didn't sleep at all that night because I was too excited. I left my house at about 5:20am to head to RCHS to board the bus. (by this time I had been up for 22 hours). I gratefully sat in the adult-ish section. Basically there were 3 teachers (Ms. Greenwalt, Ms. Klein and Mrs. Tranquillo) and three parent chaperones. The first two rows on either side were taken and Ms. Greenwalt ended up sitting across the aisle from me. She said, "You know you're in the adult section right? You don't have to move, but I just wanted you to know." Yes, I told her, I was aware of that. "It's better up here-- quieter." I told her, laughingly. It took us until roughly ten thirty to get to D.C., all the while Ms. Greenwalt was rustling her N&O, and I was desperately trying to sleep to no avail. I had interesting discussions with Courtney and Emily, and Ms. Greenwalt switched seats with me because the speakers for the movie were on her side, so that way I could hear.
We went to the OAS (Organization of American States) and I got a little pocket consitution of the OAS in Spanish. And ya know what?!?!? I could understand 90% of it! YAY! Oh yeah, and we took a bathroom break right as we got to the OAS. And while i was in the bathroom, Jason called and said his White House tour had ended early and he wanted to know if he could join us! How cool is that????
Then we had lunch, which we had all packed. After that, we walked a few blocks passed the new WWII memorial and onto the Holocaust Museum. This is one of the most eye-opening, and heart-wrenching places dealing with WWII other than visiting the actual Auschwitz and Bgurkenau themselves. Imagine you see this. The wall itself is about 20 or 25 feet high and another 25 feet long, and all over it are names of Holocaust victims. It's very powerful when the victims suddenly are not just a mass grouped together, and they start to take on personas. They are no longer just the 6.5 million victims of the Holocaust, but now they have names.
These things were intriguing as well. Imagine sleeping on that with thirty to forty other people. That is why pneumonia and typhus were so rampant.
Things like this and the room full of shoes of victims were what brought me to tears. How could human beings be so cruel and hateful? (actually, cruel and hateful don't even scratch the surface of the horrors that went on in the work and death camps.) This room is like 50 feet high and a fairly wide room, filled floor to ceiling with pictures of victims. The room with the shoes is about the same width as the other room, and there is a small bridge that stretches across its length. All around the bridge are shoes from victims. On the wall it says something to the effect of "Because we were made of leather and not of flesh and bone, we survived." I cried the longest there. When I finished my tour through the museum, Ms. Greenwalt and I had a chance to talk which was nice because I was feeling very...lost. I asked her what made Hitler up and decide to do this. I asked her why his S.S. guards followed so freely, and felt nothing when lining people up and shooting them. I asked her why the rest of the world let this go on, thinking that waging war would solve the problems. I asked her why the people of the towns, when prisoners were on death marches, could not spare even a piece of bread. We had to read an independent reading book for 20th Century Topics. I read All But My Life, by Gerda Weissman Klein. One quote from that book is "All hearts are dead." There's more to it, but that should give you a pretty good overview of the sentiment at the time. I'll write more later.
We went to the OAS (Organization of American States) and I got a little pocket consitution of the OAS in Spanish. And ya know what?!?!? I could understand 90% of it! YAY! Oh yeah, and we took a bathroom break right as we got to the OAS. And while i was in the bathroom, Jason called and said his White House tour had ended early and he wanted to know if he could join us! How cool is that????
Then we had lunch, which we had all packed. After that, we walked a few blocks passed the new WWII memorial and onto the Holocaust Museum. This is one of the most eye-opening, and heart-wrenching places dealing with WWII other than visiting the actual Auschwitz and Bgurkenau themselves. Imagine you see this. The wall itself is about 20 or 25 feet high and another 25 feet long, and all over it are names of Holocaust victims. It's very powerful when the victims suddenly are not just a mass grouped together, and they start to take on personas. They are no longer just the 6.5 million victims of the Holocaust, but now they have names.
These things were intriguing as well. Imagine sleeping on that with thirty to forty other people. That is why pneumonia and typhus were so rampant.
Things like this and the room full of shoes of victims were what brought me to tears. How could human beings be so cruel and hateful? (actually, cruel and hateful don't even scratch the surface of the horrors that went on in the work and death camps.) This room is like 50 feet high and a fairly wide room, filled floor to ceiling with pictures of victims. The room with the shoes is about the same width as the other room, and there is a small bridge that stretches across its length. All around the bridge are shoes from victims. On the wall it says something to the effect of "Because we were made of leather and not of flesh and bone, we survived." I cried the longest there. When I finished my tour through the museum, Ms. Greenwalt and I had a chance to talk which was nice because I was feeling very...lost. I asked her what made Hitler up and decide to do this. I asked her why his S.S. guards followed so freely, and felt nothing when lining people up and shooting them. I asked her why the rest of the world let this go on, thinking that waging war would solve the problems. I asked her why the people of the towns, when prisoners were on death marches, could not spare even a piece of bread. We had to read an independent reading book for 20th Century Topics. I read All But My Life, by Gerda Weissman Klein. One quote from that book is "All hearts are dead." There's more to it, but that should give you a pretty good overview of the sentiment at the time. I'll write more later.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Today, I got to see Mrs. Koch's 1 month old baby, Noah. He is sooooo precious. He's pinkish, and little, and just adorable. :)
You know, its when I see babies (like Noah, and Hannah[Grunden]) that I wonder how parents like Andrea Yates can kill their children, for whatever reason. Though she drowned her children, the more common harm done to children is shaken baby syndrome, where a young child is shaken (usually out of sheer frustration) and the best metaphor I can come up with is that it's like an egg in a small jar. The egg is the brain/skull of the child. How terrible. The other night I was babysitting for a four-year-old and a one-year-old, who is not weaned yet. She cried for nearly four hours before she finally fell asleep, because she was hungry, tired and unable to tell me what she needed. I tried everything, bottles, diaper changes, rocking, cuddling, walking outside/inside, playing, reading, etc, etc etc, but she would not be consoled. Her shriek was deafening, and I was counting back from ten every few minutes. Not because I wanted to hurt her, but because I was so confused. I couldn't help her, and she was suffering (and my ears were too.) She eventually cried herself to sleep, but that incident sheds more light on how a full-time mom could easily be pushed over the edge. Of course, that doesn't make it right, but it's clearer to me. But how you could look in the eyes of a helpless child and hurt them, frustrated or not, is still unimaginable. Sorry for the morbidity.
D.C. trip is on Friday! YAY. I'm excited.
Yard Sale Saturday morning.
And sooner or later we're gonna paint my room. I vote yellow or orange. :)
I still need to post about current events, but at the moment, I'm swamped with work, and trying to watch Law and Order SVU!
You know, its when I see babies (like Noah, and Hannah[Grunden]) that I wonder how parents like Andrea Yates can kill their children, for whatever reason. Though she drowned her children, the more common harm done to children is shaken baby syndrome, where a young child is shaken (usually out of sheer frustration) and the best metaphor I can come up with is that it's like an egg in a small jar. The egg is the brain/skull of the child. How terrible. The other night I was babysitting for a four-year-old and a one-year-old, who is not weaned yet. She cried for nearly four hours before she finally fell asleep, because she was hungry, tired and unable to tell me what she needed. I tried everything, bottles, diaper changes, rocking, cuddling, walking outside/inside, playing, reading, etc, etc etc, but she would not be consoled. Her shriek was deafening, and I was counting back from ten every few minutes. Not because I wanted to hurt her, but because I was so confused. I couldn't help her, and she was suffering (and my ears were too.) She eventually cried herself to sleep, but that incident sheds more light on how a full-time mom could easily be pushed over the edge. Of course, that doesn't make it right, but it's clearer to me. But how you could look in the eyes of a helpless child and hurt them, frustrated or not, is still unimaginable. Sorry for the morbidity.
D.C. trip is on Friday! YAY. I'm excited.
Yard Sale Saturday morning.
And sooner or later we're gonna paint my room. I vote yellow or orange. :)
I still need to post about current events, but at the moment, I'm swamped with work, and trying to watch Law and Order SVU!
Monday, November 15, 2004
Nothing much has happened in life recently. Lately, as in about one a week or every other week, I get a new ear infection, the latest occurrence having happened tonight. It switches ears each time, which sounds really weird, but it's true. The point of this drawn out ramble is that I finally got referred to an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist b/c my doctor couldn't help me anymore. The ENT looked in my ears, and then used that suction thing like they have at the dentist, to ... well suction out my ear-insides. It was quite painful, but quite astounding to see how far medical technology has come. The point of this procedure was to remove any foreign object (bug, cotton, etc) from inside my ear that could have been causing infections.
Nothing much is happening, other than that. I did get tickets to see Clay Aiken's Christmas Concert with the Symphony! <---which I am very excited about.
I am thoroughly engrossed in a lovely research paper that is due in March for APUSH. Mrs. Newmark suggested the topic of Civil Rights Supreme Court Cases...should be interesting. I will have another similar paper due around the same time for 20th Century Topics, but it will be a different topic.
Other than that? I am going to D.C. on Friday with a group from school, to tour the Holocaust Museum and other such tourist sites. It'll be a long but fun day, I imagine.
When it is not 11:18 at night, I will comment on the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, the lecture hosted at RCHS on the topic, and the recent death of Yassar Arafat. More later.
PS-If anyone who reads this knows of someone who would be a good Environmental Club speaker, let me know. I am trying to schedule after-school or lunchtime speakers from outside RCHS, seeing that I am now in charge of the club... So if you, or someone you know, would be interested in speaking at RCHS, give me your (or their) contact info. Thanks
Nothing much is happening, other than that. I did get tickets to see Clay Aiken's Christmas Concert with the Symphony! <---which I am very excited about.
I am thoroughly engrossed in a lovely research paper that is due in March for APUSH. Mrs. Newmark suggested the topic of Civil Rights Supreme Court Cases...should be interesting. I will have another similar paper due around the same time for 20th Century Topics, but it will be a different topic.
Other than that? I am going to D.C. on Friday with a group from school, to tour the Holocaust Museum and other such tourist sites. It'll be a long but fun day, I imagine.
When it is not 11:18 at night, I will comment on the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, the lecture hosted at RCHS on the topic, and the recent death of Yassar Arafat. More later.
PS-If anyone who reads this knows of someone who would be a good Environmental Club speaker, let me know. I am trying to schedule after-school or lunchtime speakers from outside RCHS, seeing that I am now in charge of the club... So if you, or someone you know, would be interested in speaking at RCHS, give me your (or their) contact info. Thanks
Saturday, October 23, 2004
So I figured it might be time for me to get around to posting again...My life has been a multitude of busy, little happenings. I don't even know how far back to start...
School is fine, but nothing much to report there. I'm in AP Bio, Eng, APUSH, Spanish 4, Pre Calc, and Topics of the 20th Century.
As of this week (and yes, they often change weekly) my biggest time commitments are the Lady Phoenix Bball Team, Quiz Bowl, Raleigh Charter Christian Fellowship, Yearbook, Newspaper, and acting president of Env. Club. On top of all that, I am babysitting on an average of 3 or 4 times per week and we just moved, so I'm still trying to open cardboard boxes and compel myself to unpack.
I'm hoping to return to Chile this summer because it changed my life. Paola and Roberto (now married) came to visit RCHS on Wed, and I had not realized for the last month how much I missed them. Suddenly, though I want to go stay in Chile with them. In other Spanish news, I am now dreaming and thinking in Spanish, which often scares me. I wake up from sleep, and realize that the people (including myself) in my dream were not speaking English. I also think (outloud and in my head) in Spanish, and occassionally speak to sole-English speakers in Spanish, which they find a little odd, but hey...
One other thing that has changed for me recently is what I want to do with my life. It's funny, because I went for a while when I was really young (elem. school) where I only wanted to be a teacher, and still that seems a viable option, at least until I decide if there is another profession I want to enter. After that teacher-phase, I hit my medical phase, which only recently began to disappear about two weeks ago. I thought medicine was my calling, but I'm not as sure anymore. I'm looking at social work, law, [I can't believe I'm going to say politician], teaching, and still medicine. Social work or psychology is my biggest inclination right now, however.
Well, I have to stop writing all these incoherent ramblings for now and get some sleep.
Blessings~
Lindsay
School is fine, but nothing much to report there. I'm in AP Bio, Eng, APUSH, Spanish 4, Pre Calc, and Topics of the 20th Century.
As of this week (and yes, they often change weekly) my biggest time commitments are the Lady Phoenix Bball Team, Quiz Bowl, Raleigh Charter Christian Fellowship, Yearbook, Newspaper, and acting president of Env. Club. On top of all that, I am babysitting on an average of 3 or 4 times per week and we just moved, so I'm still trying to open cardboard boxes and compel myself to unpack.
I'm hoping to return to Chile this summer because it changed my life. Paola and Roberto (now married) came to visit RCHS on Wed, and I had not realized for the last month how much I missed them. Suddenly, though I want to go stay in Chile with them. In other Spanish news, I am now dreaming and thinking in Spanish, which often scares me. I wake up from sleep, and realize that the people (including myself) in my dream were not speaking English. I also think (outloud and in my head) in Spanish, and occassionally speak to sole-English speakers in Spanish, which they find a little odd, but hey...
One other thing that has changed for me recently is what I want to do with my life. It's funny, because I went for a while when I was really young (elem. school) where I only wanted to be a teacher, and still that seems a viable option, at least until I decide if there is another profession I want to enter. After that teacher-phase, I hit my medical phase, which only recently began to disappear about two weeks ago. I thought medicine was my calling, but I'm not as sure anymore. I'm looking at social work, law, [I can't believe I'm going to say politician], teaching, and still medicine. Social work or psychology is my biggest inclination right now, however.
Well, I have to stop writing all these incoherent ramblings for now and get some sleep.
Blessings~
Lindsay
Thursday, August 05, 2004
This is our new house!
This is the master bedroom.
This is the cozy little den.
This is the master-bathroom's bathtub. I can see it now: luxurious bubble baths....:)
This is the dining room! My sister has big, elegant plans for this room. Why does that scare me?
And here's my room. (not this furniture). It's located above the garage, and has slanted ceilings. It's really cool, with a walk-in closet and tons of space! YAY for not living out of cardboard boxes anymore and for no more rental house!
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Here guys:
TELL'>http://www.blunttruthgame.com/takesurvey.cfm?uid=7622311&sn=%n">TELL THE TRUTH SURVEY!
TELL'>http://www.blunttruthgame.com/takesurvey.cfm?uid=7622311&sn=%n">TELL THE TRUTH SURVEY!
Friday, July 30, 2004
Well, what can I say? Life is going pretty well, except we are still waiting for the judge to pass down an order in my parents' child-support/custody case. It has been over six months since we went to court, and yet no order is in place. But that is a discussion for another time.
In other news: Cross country has started back. It appears we have a very large turnout which is great! We have a new head coach: Coach Jamar Bryson, and two assistant coaches: Coach Lachance, and Coach Brongo. The first day, we just did some stretches, an easy run, and then some more stretches. Eleven people came to practice that day. Yesterday, we did circuits, but only four people showed up. Two girls, two boys. There were fifteen circuit stations. I'll try my best to remember all of them:
1. Jumproping
2. V-ups, an alternate to sit-ups
3. Sit-ups
4. Push-ups
5. Leg kicks
6. Butt-kicks
7. Mountain climbers (hard to describe)
8. Lunges
9. Squats, which weren't really squats. You stood in front of a bench, and jumped up onto the bench, then jumped off, then on, then off, over and over again.
10. Alternating leg-ups on a bench (put one foot on the seat of a bench, then hop up, placing your other foot next to it, and put the first foot back on the ground. Repeat until you think your legs will fall off)
11. Stair runs
12. Weight running. (we swung our arms as though we were running while holding weights)
13. Leg lifts
14. Reverse push-ups (or at least, that's what I call them). You sit with your legs straight out in front of you, your feet on a bench, and your hands behind you on another bench, so there should be a good two feet or so between the benches. Then you lift your self off the bench, and lower and raise your self between the benches, using your arms. I loved this one!
15. There was one other one, but I don't remember what it was.
Today, we ran down to Fletcher park, where we did four hill sprints, and then some drills, just strides and deer runs. Fun stuff!
I work a lot, but I enjoy it so it's all good. I worked 5-11pm last night, (Thursday night) and it should have been an easy, laid back night. And it was, until about 10:30. About this time, three drunk guys came into the theatre, and at the time we didn't know they were drunk. All of a sudden, they began harassing one of our door people, who takes tickets. They got all in his face and shoved him at one point. Ms. Teresa, a temporary manager, threw them out. Meanwhile, Justin, who is a projection manager, was talking to these six teenage girls (like thirteen or fourteen years old), and they told him that the same guys had lifted up one of the girls' skirt, and then talked about some very vulgar things. So Mike, one of the managers, calls 911 to get police down to the theatre quickly. The guys finally left the property after some threats to bring their "people" down to the theatre. The police got there, meanwhile, and we found out that the guys had been pulled over about a mile from the theatre for drunk driving. Much too much action for a Thursday night. You know the managers are overwhelmed when they don't bother to check your inventory sheet or count your money to see if you are off. They just put it in a drawer and tell you to go home. They didn't even nag me to clean up, which was good because I was annoyed. Tim, the guy who worked next to me, should have cleaned up, but he left an hour early, and told me he wasn't "cleaning nothing." It ticks me off when people don't pull their load. Alas alack, I ended up cleaning up anyway, reluctantly. It seems to me that cleaning up and picking up the other employees' slack could be good or bad. Good: I know I'm doing what I should be doing, and I think it's fair. The managers shouldn't have to clean up after us. It's not their job. Bad: It's happened multiple (5 or 6) times in the past week and a half, and it only furthers the problem because I'm too scared to tell the managers. I don't want to sound like I am complaining, but it gets on my nerves when I have to stay an extra hour and a half to clean up because the person I was working with left me. Certainly, by me cleaning and keeping my mouth shut about it, let's the others get away with not doing squat. But it's not my place to enforce the rules. Oh well. *sigh*
Today, four movies open, so I am sure that the theatre will be busy. I work until 11pm tonight, until 1:30am tomorrow, and then until 11:30pm Sunday night. But I enjoy those late-night times, because we always have police officers onduty. The four movies are Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle, The Manchurian Candidate, The Village, and Thunder Birds.
In other news: Cross country has started back. It appears we have a very large turnout which is great! We have a new head coach: Coach Jamar Bryson, and two assistant coaches: Coach Lachance, and Coach Brongo. The first day, we just did some stretches, an easy run, and then some more stretches. Eleven people came to practice that day. Yesterday, we did circuits, but only four people showed up. Two girls, two boys. There were fifteen circuit stations. I'll try my best to remember all of them:
1. Jumproping
2. V-ups, an alternate to sit-ups
3. Sit-ups
4. Push-ups
5. Leg kicks
6. Butt-kicks
7. Mountain climbers (hard to describe)
8. Lunges
9. Squats, which weren't really squats. You stood in front of a bench, and jumped up onto the bench, then jumped off, then on, then off, over and over again.
10. Alternating leg-ups on a bench (put one foot on the seat of a bench, then hop up, placing your other foot next to it, and put the first foot back on the ground. Repeat until you think your legs will fall off)
11. Stair runs
12. Weight running. (we swung our arms as though we were running while holding weights)
13. Leg lifts
14. Reverse push-ups (or at least, that's what I call them). You sit with your legs straight out in front of you, your feet on a bench, and your hands behind you on another bench, so there should be a good two feet or so between the benches. Then you lift your self off the bench, and lower and raise your self between the benches, using your arms. I loved this one!
15. There was one other one, but I don't remember what it was.
Today, we ran down to Fletcher park, where we did four hill sprints, and then some drills, just strides and deer runs. Fun stuff!
I work a lot, but I enjoy it so it's all good. I worked 5-11pm last night, (Thursday night) and it should have been an easy, laid back night. And it was, until about 10:30. About this time, three drunk guys came into the theatre, and at the time we didn't know they were drunk. All of a sudden, they began harassing one of our door people, who takes tickets. They got all in his face and shoved him at one point. Ms. Teresa, a temporary manager, threw them out. Meanwhile, Justin, who is a projection manager, was talking to these six teenage girls (like thirteen or fourteen years old), and they told him that the same guys had lifted up one of the girls' skirt, and then talked about some very vulgar things. So Mike, one of the managers, calls 911 to get police down to the theatre quickly. The guys finally left the property after some threats to bring their "people" down to the theatre. The police got there, meanwhile, and we found out that the guys had been pulled over about a mile from the theatre for drunk driving. Much too much action for a Thursday night. You know the managers are overwhelmed when they don't bother to check your inventory sheet or count your money to see if you are off. They just put it in a drawer and tell you to go home. They didn't even nag me to clean up, which was good because I was annoyed. Tim, the guy who worked next to me, should have cleaned up, but he left an hour early, and told me he wasn't "cleaning nothing." It ticks me off when people don't pull their load. Alas alack, I ended up cleaning up anyway, reluctantly. It seems to me that cleaning up and picking up the other employees' slack could be good or bad. Good: I know I'm doing what I should be doing, and I think it's fair. The managers shouldn't have to clean up after us. It's not their job. Bad: It's happened multiple (5 or 6) times in the past week and a half, and it only furthers the problem because I'm too scared to tell the managers. I don't want to sound like I am complaining, but it gets on my nerves when I have to stay an extra hour and a half to clean up because the person I was working with left me. Certainly, by me cleaning and keeping my mouth shut about it, let's the others get away with not doing squat. But it's not my place to enforce the rules. Oh well. *sigh*
Today, four movies open, so I am sure that the theatre will be busy. I work until 11pm tonight, until 1:30am tomorrow, and then until 11:30pm Sunday night. But I enjoy those late-night times, because we always have police officers onduty. The four movies are Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle, The Manchurian Candidate, The Village, and Thunder Birds.
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
| Well, we bought a car today. I can hardly contain myself. We got a really good deal on a Mitsibishi Mirage, from 2000. It's in impecably good shape for a four-year-old car. It has power locks, windows, a cd-player, and airconditioning. The interior looks like its barely been used before. I even got to take it on a test drive! It drives very smoothly. The people at the Saturn Dealership are very, very nice. It's only 12 days till I get my liscense.
In other news, not much is happening. Life is pretty steady, and I guess I can't complain! I'm nervous about the new school year. So far, I know of few people who will be in classes with me, and that is always a little unnerving. Lately, I find myself consumed on one of two topics: Chile and dance. Pretty pathetic huh? As far as Chile is concerned, I am saving all my money (that I didn't just spend on a car) to return next year. Those nine days were the best of my life, and I cannot wait to return. The people were incredible, the scenery was one-of-a-kind, and the experience was life-altering. Paola, one of the directors, has already said that when she and Roberto, the other director, get settled into married life and buy a house that I can come visit them for a while! That would be soooo awesome. As for dance, well I am doing a lot of "soul searching" and I'm finding that I have no real desire to return to dance classes in the fall. While the thought of no dance breaks my heart, I have realized that I don't have the passion or love for it that I used to. Maybe it's because Ms. Ali was jailed and I have finally realized that she's not going to return one day and reopen the studio. I guess I was dreaming of having my studio back, and when I know that I will never have it, I find that dance just doesn't feel as worth it. I lived for it at one time, and now....well, maybe it just wasn't for me. It's pretty sad, though, how I can fall out of love with something that has been a part of my life for going on 14 years, and suddenly, because one person fails me and abandons what we all poured hard work into, I find myself lost, without a passion in life. Wow, that is a scary thought. Work's fine. Same old, same old. I'll be sad when my buddies leave at the beginning of school, though. It just won't be the same without them....Cross country starts tomorrow, so that should boost my spirit some. My sister's running XC too, and I've been helping train her, but it's not going so well. She's not really into it, and I wish she would play tennis. She'd be happier there, but my mom insists that she should run on the team with me, so I can help her through the fall season. Woohoo. Sounds like fun....NOT. Oh well, I love my sister, though. More later. |
Monday, July 19, 2004
This post is in response to "blank"s post. I will be the first to admit that I don't take everything the Bible says in a literal translation, and I am willing to bet a whole lot that "blank" doesn't obey everything or believe everything set forth in the Bible. I have done a lot of research in the Bible on this passage, and I have found a couple of things. One, Jesus never makes any call on whether or not same-sex marriage is unbiblical or against God's will in any way. Second, the Bible says that a man shall not lie with another man (Leviticus), but in the same passage, it also says that no one is to eat rare meat, have tatoos, cross breed livestock or wear clothing made of blended threads. While I have never done the first three, I wear clothes of blended threads daily. Who is to say that we can do one thing and not do another? God certainly hasn't come down, in a booming voice and proclaimed that we can do all of the once-forbidden things, except for same-sex marriage. Certainly, though, our country is not on its way to hell because we wear clothing of multiple threads. Also, in Timothy the exact translations of "homosexual" are not known and it is very unlikely that it is used the same way both then and now. Wait, don't forget that Timothy is also the one who is against women braiding their hair, wearing expensive clothing and jewelry, and does not permit women to speak at church. Now, as far as I am aware (and please, correct me if I am wrong), we allow women to do all of these things today! I do not take everything the Bible says literally. I also firmly believe that sexuality is not something people can control. I cannot comprehend why someone would choose to be homosexual, knowing full-well, all the torment and hatred they would be put through just because of their sexuality. I believe that being homosexual or heterosexual is part of who God made each of us to be. God made us unique and special, and He loves us for it. I believe that our sexuality is not our choice but rather an integral part of God's ultimate plan for us and for the rest of humanity. Disagree with me if you wish, but don't ever tell me that my way of thinking is unbiblical, especially when I go to church often and I have accepted Christ as my Savior.
|
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Alright, it's time for me to rant about something. The Marriage Amendment.
I will continue to say about same-sex marriage what I have always said---- if they love each other, then who cares what sex they are? I believe that the government should stay out of people's private lives, unless the private lives of citizens interfere with or are causing harm in the lives of others.
President Bush can be really idiotic sometimes. Like this: "Our government should respect every person, and protect the institution of marriage. There is no contradiction between these responsibilities." Uhhh, yeah there is a BIG contradiction there. You can't respect every person, and at the same time tell them they can't be legally married to someone they are in love with. Somehow, that is VERY contradictory, to me.
"Ages of experience have taught humanity that the commitment of a husband and wife to love and to serve one another promotes the welfare of children and the stability of society." Okay, so let me get this straight. If a same-sex couple decides to adopt a child, then that child would not be as stable or would not have as loving a home? Hmmmm. . .how bout NOT! And the difference in the stability of society if we have no same-sex couples than if we do is WHAT!?!?!? That's complete and total bs. The truth is that, marriage isn't all that great in the first place, and I'll testify to that. My parents have been divorced for ten years, and ya know what? Nothing in the last ten years, not living in two different cities, not the lack of money because no child support was paid, not the many court visits, not the couseling, not the fighting, not the taking me out of town without telling the other parent, none of that made for a very good environment. And that was after they were NOT living together. Imagine the hell that went on when they were. Marriage is not some wonderful thing, because "for better or worse, as long as you both shall live" doesn't exist anymore. The president can't worry about the stability of society and welfare of children, if he hasn't made divorce illegal yet.
"Government, by recognizing and protecting marriage, serves the interests of all." Yeah, uh huh. Sure. Because we know that EVERYBODY wants same-sex marriage to be outlawed. Because everyone in America clearly wants the same thing. Ha. in your dreams!
Okay I'm done now. But c'mon. It's not as though legalizing same-sex marriage will bring our country down. Letting Bush run our country for another 4 years will be the end of America as we know it! Lol. [No apologies. So there] PS-go see Fahrenheit 9-11 at Brier Creek or Park Place (maybe?)
I will continue to say about same-sex marriage what I have always said---- if they love each other, then who cares what sex they are? I believe that the government should stay out of people's private lives, unless the private lives of citizens interfere with or are causing harm in the lives of others.
President Bush can be really idiotic sometimes. Like this: "Our government should respect every person, and protect the institution of marriage. There is no contradiction between these responsibilities." Uhhh, yeah there is a BIG contradiction there. You can't respect every person, and at the same time tell them they can't be legally married to someone they are in love with. Somehow, that is VERY contradictory, to me.
"Ages of experience have taught humanity that the commitment of a husband and wife to love and to serve one another promotes the welfare of children and the stability of society." Okay, so let me get this straight. If a same-sex couple decides to adopt a child, then that child would not be as stable or would not have as loving a home? Hmmmm. . .how bout NOT! And the difference in the stability of society if we have no same-sex couples than if we do is WHAT!?!?!? That's complete and total bs. The truth is that, marriage isn't all that great in the first place, and I'll testify to that. My parents have been divorced for ten years, and ya know what? Nothing in the last ten years, not living in two different cities, not the lack of money because no child support was paid, not the many court visits, not the couseling, not the fighting, not the taking me out of town without telling the other parent, none of that made for a very good environment. And that was after they were NOT living together. Imagine the hell that went on when they were. Marriage is not some wonderful thing, because "for better or worse, as long as you both shall live" doesn't exist anymore. The president can't worry about the stability of society and welfare of children, if he hasn't made divorce illegal yet.
"Government, by recognizing and protecting marriage, serves the interests of all." Yeah, uh huh. Sure. Because we know that EVERYBODY wants same-sex marriage to be outlawed. Because everyone in America clearly wants the same thing. Ha. in your dreams!
Okay I'm done now. But c'mon. It's not as though legalizing same-sex marriage will bring our country down. Letting Bush run our country for another 4 years will be the end of America as we know it! Lol. [No apologies. So there] PS-go see Fahrenheit 9-11 at Brier Creek or Park Place (maybe?)
Monday, July 12, 2004
Dance, or the lackthereof in my life currently, is truly beginning to depress me. It hit me tonight, when I was in my kitchen, and a commercial with good music came on. I started crazily dancing around my kitchen, and realized I had inadvertantly picked up a clogging step I had never been able to master before. I haven't been in a clogging class since February, when the studio shut down, and suddenly I was longing very much for the old, busy, but absolutely wonderful routine of dance Monday through Thursday for three or four hours each night, and an extra private rehearsal or workshop on Saturdays. Suddenly I am longing to be deeply and passionately involved in something other than work.
I feel so isolated from my friends and everyone else. There was a time when I was doing basketball practice every afternoon, followed by rigorous hours of dance rehearsals, and of course I was totally immersed in the world of teaching dance. But suddenly, I feel like I have nothing, except a job, which I admit I am blessed and thankful to have. I work six or seven hours a day, five or six days a week, and on weekdays if I am not working, I am babysitting from 9-5. And when I'm not working or babysitting, I'm resting and trying to regain some energy.
Onto other current life happenings. My big current project is my novel, which I have begun to work on, once again. My mom and sister and I are probably going to move, once again, into my tenth or eleventh house in my lifetime. Argh, I hate moving. We've been in this house for nine months, and I am just beginning to unpack boxes and get truly settled in, and now we are house hunting again. Oh well.
Job update: My favorite manager, Josh has left and transferred to VA. I miss him a lot, because, though he has a sarcastic attitude, we got along very well. Overrall, my job is incredible. I dress for work everday, excited about another day on the clock, adn I say that in all seriousness. There is only one thing at work that I don't like, and I really hate to write publically about it, so I won't.
Song of the day: "Have You Ever Been In Love?" By Celine Dion
Have you ever been in love
You could touch the moonlight
When your heart is shooting stars
You're holding heaven in your arms
Have you ever been so in love
Have you ever walked on air
Ever felt like you were dreamin'
When you never thought it could
But it really feels that good
Have you ever been so in love
Have you ever been in love
You could touch the moonlight
When your heart is shooting stars
You're holding heaven in your arms
Have you ever been in love
Have you
The time I spent waiting for something
That was heaven sent
When you find it don't let go
I know...
Have you ever said a prayer
And found that it was answered
All my hope has been restored
And I ain't looking anymore
Have you ever been so in love
Have you
Some place that you ain't leavin'
Somewhere you gonna stay
When you finally found the meanin'
Have you ever felt this way
The time I spent waiting for something
That was heaven sent
When you find it don't let go
I know...
'Cause have you ever been in love
So in love
You could touch the moonlight
You can even reach the stars
Doesn't matter near or far
Have you ever been so in love
I said
'Cause have you ever been in love
Have you ever been in love
So in love
I feel so isolated from my friends and everyone else. There was a time when I was doing basketball practice every afternoon, followed by rigorous hours of dance rehearsals, and of course I was totally immersed in the world of teaching dance. But suddenly, I feel like I have nothing, except a job, which I admit I am blessed and thankful to have. I work six or seven hours a day, five or six days a week, and on weekdays if I am not working, I am babysitting from 9-5. And when I'm not working or babysitting, I'm resting and trying to regain some energy.
Onto other current life happenings. My big current project is my novel, which I have begun to work on, once again. My mom and sister and I are probably going to move, once again, into my tenth or eleventh house in my lifetime. Argh, I hate moving. We've been in this house for nine months, and I am just beginning to unpack boxes and get truly settled in, and now we are house hunting again. Oh well.
Job update: My favorite manager, Josh has left and transferred to VA. I miss him a lot, because, though he has a sarcastic attitude, we got along very well. Overrall, my job is incredible. I dress for work everday, excited about another day on the clock, adn I say that in all seriousness. There is only one thing at work that I don't like, and I really hate to write publically about it, so I won't.
Song of the day: "Have You Ever Been In Love?" By Celine Dion
Have you ever been in love
You could touch the moonlight
When your heart is shooting stars
You're holding heaven in your arms
Have you ever been so in love
Have you ever walked on air
Ever felt like you were dreamin'
When you never thought it could
But it really feels that good
Have you ever been so in love
Have you ever been in love
You could touch the moonlight
When your heart is shooting stars
You're holding heaven in your arms
Have you ever been in love
Have you
The time I spent waiting for something
That was heaven sent
When you find it don't let go
I know...
Have you ever said a prayer
And found that it was answered
All my hope has been restored
And I ain't looking anymore
Have you ever been so in love
Have you
Some place that you ain't leavin'
Somewhere you gonna stay
When you finally found the meanin'
Have you ever felt this way
The time I spent waiting for something
That was heaven sent
When you find it don't let go
I know...
'Cause have you ever been in love
So in love
You could touch the moonlight
You can even reach the stars
Doesn't matter near or far
Have you ever been so in love
I said
'Cause have you ever been in love
Have you ever been in love
So in love
Sunday, July 04, 2004
What's Wrong With the World??
Well, today is Independence Day, a day where we set off fireworks, and proudly wear red, white and blue, as we reflect on just how lucky we are to live in a free nation. Happy Birthday USA!
In other news, today I found out that my former dance studio director/teacher (the one who never paid the rent, and who kept all of our tuition and other fees) was arrested and jailed for possession of cocaine. She and a few others were pulled over in her car, and all arrested because there was cocaine in her car. As much as I would like to believe that she was driving around with the drugs unknowingly, I have to suck it up and face the hard reality that she may very well have been doing/dealing drugs. These are the times when it's hard to trust and have faith in this world. I wanted to believe her story of "my boyfriend ran off with my money. It's not my fault." But I guess people are going to let you down and we should just get on with our lives and make the best of it.
Well, today is Independence Day, a day where we set off fireworks, and proudly wear red, white and blue, as we reflect on just how lucky we are to live in a free nation. Happy Birthday USA!
In other news, today I found out that my former dance studio director/teacher (the one who never paid the rent, and who kept all of our tuition and other fees) was arrested and jailed for possession of cocaine. She and a few others were pulled over in her car, and all arrested because there was cocaine in her car. As much as I would like to believe that she was driving around with the drugs unknowingly, I have to suck it up and face the hard reality that she may very well have been doing/dealing drugs. These are the times when it's hard to trust and have faith in this world. I wanted to believe her story of "my boyfriend ran off with my money. It's not my fault." But I guess people are going to let you down and we should just get on with our lives and make the best of it.
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