Icebergs and Yoga Instructing Komodo Dragons

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. Well, what if life hands you a mother diagnosed with a critical illness, two parents who are out of a job, a sister who doesn’t understand why she needs to do well in school, a lunatic ex-boyfriend, college finals, emotionally unstable friends, and a big heaping bagful of unnecessary stress? If you ask me, that lemonade will probably taste more like moose piss than anything else.

            Naturally, when my English professor told me that I would be required to write a blog, I completely froze. What do I know about more than anything else? What can I write about that will never be boring? I could write about my family, I could write about the politics in the world until the cows come home, but the one thing that stood out amongst all others was the opportunity to help someone else. Helping others is one of my favorite past times. And if you have not guessed, the first paragraph of this blog is not some fictional hurricane of disaster that I wrote up to over exaggerate and prove a point. The first paragraph is my life. Crazy right? Like I said ladies and gentlemen, moose piss.
            Now, I could sit here and type to you (the two people who read this *and that might be pushing it*) and make myself out to seem like a strongly motivated and persistent person. And I could tell you that through these obstacles I've never fallen. However, I refuse to lie to you. Life has thrown me its share of tragedy, as we all have experienced. Life has seemed dark at points, and I've even considered just giving up. Sometimes nothing seems better than laying in your bed all day, unable to welcome the day. But I simply could not do that. I sat down and saw all the bad things that were happening to me and I fell apart. However, sometimes you just need someone to pick up the pieces and put you back together. I've had the honor of having some very helpful and concerned friends who have all (you know who you are) tried to pick me up and dust me off. Without them, who knows where I would be right now. Because of them, my lemonade tastes more like one of those freckled lemonades from Red Robin and less like moose piss.
            Life has had its ups and downs for all of us, but one thing that I can say is never give up. When something bad happens to you just look back on a time when things were worse.. it makes the present seem bearable. And if you have not experienced anything as bad as the experience at hand just think, "In the future when I say I've gotten through worse, I'm talking about this right now." Get through it.. even if it involves your finances, your health, your family.. just keep trying. If you fall down and fail to get back up, you make yourself miserable, and everyone else around you miserable.
            Now, I know this sounds cliche', and I know you might disregard what I have said, but truly listen to me. I've been told that I am "the poster child for moving forward". And considering all that I have been through, I find this to be somewhat true. I've walked down some pretty destructive paths but I've always managed to keep walking even when it seemed impossible. When I've hit the ground, I crawled. Anything to move forward. At the time, if you're reading this and you've just gone through something horrible. I give you my dearest sympathies. But remember this, my sympathy and the sympathy of others is not what will make you move forward. Only you can keep walking, and only you can break through the darkness.


In place of my usual quote I'm putting a poem in my blog instead. I wrote this poem about 4 months ago and I just thought that it could strengthen my opinion to continue through the hardships that life goes hand in hand with. Without the struggle, the reward would seem meaningless. Allow your heart to fly.

Bound Angel

Eyes reaching towards the sky, he desires one single chance to fly.

His sunken heart beats out of time; he gains no comfort with the passing time.

“Soul, awaken. Rest no more. Allow my paltry heart to soar.”

His lament goes unheard and his wings remain bound. Not a single word anymore. Not a single sound.

Bruised and battered, his heart beats still. Racing, chasing, and longing to be filled.

With heavy eyes, his distinctiveness fades, alone and unheard of, in his own private grave.

He once longed to fly; he brought color to the plain. This world of hate and bitterness broke him down and made it fade.

Have strength; create waves in the sea of commonplace. Greet everyone with open arms and with your dreams keep pace.

-Sarah A. Randles

Fleece and Broken Bumble Bees

I'm a very forgetful person, and it can be pretty frustrating sometimes not not remember simple things like due dates. But one thing that I found amazing and I've always found somewhat interesting is exactly how much the brain is capable of. We can remember words to literally hundreds of songs, but we can't remember something as simple as what we ate for dinner 2 days ago. I've never truly understood this until we went over it in my psychology class. Through the process of encoding, we take in, remember, and eventually recall information we have learned.

Overload in Working Memory:

In order to avoid a memory overload, it is wise to not place excessive demands in at one time.

• Monitor the speed at which you take in information.
• Work slowly enough to allow sufficient time to retrieve meanings related to the information. Pause between valuable information.
• Work with 3-5 chunks of new information at one time.
• It would be better to break up information into sections or subsections. Trying to learn or memorize too many chunks of information moves beyond the capacity of your memory.
• Break larger pieces of information into smaller units.
• When reviewing, do not read an entire section of notes without stopping. Read a small section, and pause to make associations and check comprehension.
• Free up your working memory by ignoring intrusive thoughts.
• Daydreaming, stress, distractions, and general anxiety can occupy working memory space.
•  

Using Effective Strategies for Working Memories:

Understanding how you process information lays the foundation for learning how to use working memory effectively to become a more powerful learner.

• Limit the number of items and the speed at which you take in stimuli (Avoid Overloading)
• Create an interest and excitement in new information (discussing it with other students, sharing information with family or others who are unaware of it)
• Set learning goals when you study (intention to learn creates a stronger purpose with desired outcomes)
• Create and use associations to link together chunks of information (relate the new information to information you already know)
• Make a strong impression of new information, and practice retrieving that impression creating strong impressions (involves focusing your attention on the information so you can “take it in” as a vivid unit of information)
• Work with information to encode it in new ways (use multisensory learning strategies to learn new information and to encode it using the three main modalities)
• Give additional rehearsal attention to items in the middle of lists (primacy effect – the first or last item is easier to recall and recency effect- the items most recently practiced are easier to recall, therefore give additional attention to the items in the middle)
• Use self-quizzing and other techniques that provide feedback (test the accuracy and completeness of your understanding)
• Spread learning over several time periods (spaced practice)
• Rehearse frequently (include time where you study review new information and previously learned information from your text books)

So though the mind is a complex thing, there are ways we can overcome the obstacles we could potentially face while trying to learn.

Everybody needs his memories.  They keep the wolf of insignificance from the door.  ~Saul Bellow

Aglets and Flying Sharks

Nowadays, people are too focused on a person's physical appearance. I know I'm being a hypocrite here because I can't walk out of the house without makeup on but I feel like people are too concerned with how they look. The media tends to portray "beauty" as skinny, flawless, and young. Beauty can be found anywhere not just in a person's physical attributes.

Skinny is not necessarily perfect. Ladies, not all men want a girl that they can literally see through, so don't be afraid to eat a bit of food. Some people don't truly know what beauty is. Beauty is found in the soul, and in the eyes of someone who wants to lend a hand to someone in need. Beauty is found in the eyes of a child who wants to learn. Beauty is different then "hot", and regardless, women need to stop being so obsessed with their physical appearance. Women are more prone to stress and depression. In my opinion, it is wrong for people to make beauty unobtainable. Beauty makes people forget the real purpose in their lives.. the real reason to work. Not for beauty or for vanity.. but for the well being of others and the well being of themselves. To go out in the world and change it in some way. To create something. To make the world a bit different in one way or another.

I, personally, have always had low self-esteem, however the older I get, and the more lessons I learn I realize that though I may not be "pretty" or what society deems as "pretty", my personality makes up for it. There are many girls who have low self-esteem, and they need to stop looking at the negative and look at what they DO have going for them. Beauty can be found in intelligence, or in a smiling face.

"Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams." --Ashley Smith

Mufasa and Transforming Microwaves

People are all too concerned about what they could potentially receive. To give IS to receive. It does not matter if all you can give is a dollar, or a pat on the back, as long as you make an effort to give. Considering Christmas is right around the corner, there's no excuse to avoid giving. Sometimes the best thing you can give is a chance.. have a quarrel with an old friend? a family member? Why not use the holiday as an excuse to move beyond the boundaries you have to make a difference in their lives? This is the time of the year to make a change, for the better. Though it might hurt to not be able to give someone the world, sometimes it might be better to just make the world a bit brighter for them. Just make them smile may be the best thing they can ever get. Go out of your way and change a life. Or just make someone's life more enjoyable.

Its every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it. --Albert Einstein

Buttermilk and Coconut Conversations

Throughout history, the concept of art has posed many difficult and emotionally stressful questions. Art is created when an artist creates something that poses a question, makes the viewer think, sends a message, or triggers emotion. Whether or not everyone likes it does not determine whether or not something is art. People have different perspectives and different opinions. Simply because something is “pretty” does not necessarily mean it is art. Art can be found in unexpected places and sometimes a piece of art can be created out of some unexpected materials. Art is found in the eye of the beholder; someone making an effort to create something; something that people will remember; something that may draw out emotions.

Where there are creative, artistic, motivated minds, there lies ambition and a drive to create. Artists have become more daring, trying different materials to create sculptures made of metal, cotton balls, tires, and even doors. There are even some artists who might be unaware that they have created a form of art. A contest called “Stuck at Prom®”1, has opened the door to a new form of art. By entering this contest, the winners could win a scholarship for $3,000, plus turn a few heads in the process. The participants must enter the contest as a couple and must attend prom in their own fashionable creations made of 100% of Duct Tape. Because of this slightly odd contest, they have started creating various colors of Duck® Brand Duct Tape including green, red, aqua, camo green, camo brown, funky flamingo, navy blue, atomic yellow, blaze orange, and other colors which still could never put the classic silver to shame.

Teens must live in the United States, must be 14 or older, and must create a completely original idea with no help from a third party. "Each couple must attend a high school, or home school association, prom held in the spring of 2009”. The artistically creates dresses and suits made of Duct Tape might be considered a waste of time or a ridiculous attempt at seeking attention. However, these creations are original and are beautiful in their own way. Some of these outfits take over 45 rolls of Duct Tape, $120 to make, and months to complete. It would be ridiculous to not see these creations as works of art. The hard work alone that goes into creating these fashions, it is almost impossible to disregard the final outcome as junk. Though there is a difference between design and art, I find that this particular way of creating something new, is much more than a design.

Though people’s opinions may vary and though people may be unable to look at a piece of artwork in a different light, one thing remains the same. An artist longs to create, whether that be a beautiful portrait created of the finest charcoals or a sculpture of a horse made of corks and thumb tacks, is defined by the creator. Perhaps that is the most outstanding of the concept, itself. Simply because we might not “enjoy” an artwork does not mean it is not art. If a person happens to dislike the Mona Lisa, that would not be grounds to deem it as junk. Someone somewhere could see beauty and marvel in something that another man would call garbage. Picasso was an artist that drew much controversy as well, but that did not stop him from creating. Sometimes the most abstract of creations could speak the loudest in our hearts.

Many of the participants in the contest Stuck at Prom are influenced by the reward. These teenagers may hardly realize that they are artists, though they realize that what they are making may turn a head or two in their direction. They’re creating something beautiful; functional sculptures. Each one of these teenagers participating have put full use to their time and efforts, trying to make their prom night memorable, and alongside having fun, they have made an entirely original creation. These students deserve credit for their creativity and their art.

The true definition of art may boggle the mind of many people in the world, but one must remember that one person’s definition is not the same as another. The true reason for art is to express oneself, an idea, a place, an emotion, something. Art is a way of self-expression, and just because one person might dislike what is on display, does not taint another person’s view of it. It takes a lot to be an artist with the constant criticism of society. It is difficult for a person to even attempt to create, considering their fear of rejection. Sometimes, it may be wise to just accept something created by someone else regardless of whether or not it appeals to one individual, because something absolutely marvelous could be locked away in someone’s head but afraid of venturing out.


“All I know Is, if you don't figure out this something, you’ll just stay ordinary, and It doesn’t matter if its a work of art or a taco, or a pair of socks! Just create something... new, and there it is, and its you, out in the world, out side of you and you can look at it, or hear it, or read it, or feel it... and you know a little more about... you. A little bit more than anyone else does.. Does that make any sense at all?” (PS I Love You 2007)

Monster Trucks and Jelly Doughnuts

Fear always has been a giant impact on the world as we know it. Fear of losing a job, getting bad grades, fear of failure, being alone, losing a war, clowns, the dark, the Burger King guy; all of our fears will come out to play a role in our lives at one point or another. Perhaps the fear is caused by a traumatic experience we had as a child, or maybe this fear has simply always been without any memory of its birth. Fear can alter our way of thinking and cause us to make poor decisions out of fear. A typical example is the small child at night who has just watched a scary movie before bed and has a nightmare or can not sleep. Fear can drive us to do some pretty crazy things. I heard a story once of a woman who's daughter came home in the middle of the night from college to suprise her in the morning. The mother thought there was a burglar in her house and shot her daughter by mistake.

I, personally have some fears of my own that I have been trying to overcome. Though difficult, I highly recommend that you try to face your fears because you don't want your fear following you, weighing you down the rest of your life. I've been afraid of hospitals pretty much as long as I can remember. My grandfather, whom I never had the liberty to meet, was a diabetic and after a heart attack was sent to Oakwood. They misread his charts and gave him a direct injection of glucose. He passed away 3 hours later. Mistakes are always made; mistakes that change, alter, and take lives. However, I can not let my fear keep me from my family. When my uncle was sent to the hospital for kidney failure, I couldn't take it. Hhe had been in the hospital for about a week before the doctors could give us any exact information but we were told his chances were slim. I slept in the hostpital that entire week. I stayed there because I wasn't going to let my fears keep me away from my family. That is one of the best decisions I have ever made. If something bad had happened I never would have forgiven myself for staying at home while he faced one of the largest battles he's ever had to face. My family was pretty torn apart, and I had to stay strong and help them through it. He walked away the day after Easter that year. My uncle's heart had stopped beating and had started back up unassisted less than a minute after they called his time of death. My uncle is a walking miracle.

Fear keeps us from reaching what we want to accomplish. I strongly push you to overcome your fears because believe it or not a simple fear could keep you from having a great life. Instead of being afraid of failure or risking something, have a fear of fear. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and take a chance in the world to become all you've wanted to be and to do all you've ever wanted to do.



The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.
-Anne Frank

Chocolate Eskimo Noodles

Though I usually try talking about my personal life in my blogs, something has really been on my mind lately and I feel that maybe, by me letting my walls down for a little while, I can help someone else. In July of 2007, my mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This is an autoimmune caused disease in which the body's immune response attacks the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). MS affects the ability of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to communicate with each other. This can cause those with the disease to lose effectiveness of their cognitive thinking. My mother, is a brilliant woman and I've never realized how important she is to me until I've seen her in pain. My mother is in pain every day, suffers from memory loss, and has a hard time working out logical problems. She brings a smile to the face of anyone she meets and she would do anything to make someone feel welcome. There is no known cure for Multiple Sclerosis, however there are treatments ment to lessen the effects. Unfortunately, each patient is different and the process could take a rapid or slow pace based on simple genetics. A person with MS generally finds it difficult to speak the words they are thinking, have difficulty standing for long periods of time, and experience spasms on a frequent basis. Problems visually are likely to occur along with involuntary eye movements.

Not meaning to give you a medical lesson, I just would like people to know what my mother has been going through. I've realized through this experience, that life truly is more fragile that we would like to think. My mother was a state champ catcher for schoolcraft college, she was one of the most athletic people I could ever dream to know, and since her diagnosis with this disease, she has not been able to do as much as she would have been able to do. More than half of those with MS will end up in a wheelchair by the age of 40.

I'm telling you this simply because I have taken advantage of the gift of life. I have not only ignored my own desires but I regret not bonding with my parents sooner. Life throws curves our way, and it should be our job to retaliate in whatever way we can. Live life to it's fullest. I only wish that no one else could go through the difficulties that my mother has to go through. It's especially hard on her because she was one of the most brilliant minds I have ever come to meet and now she has difficulty remembering how to work the remote. She's an amazing person and a role model of mine.

I strongly encourage you to touch the hearts of as many people as you can. Go out and make someone smile at least three times a day and live like you were dying. Appreciate your parents, and appreciate the people who you might fight with, they're not as aweful as you would like to think.








"Those who brings sunshine to the lives of others can not keep it from themselves."
-James Barrie

Rubber Frogs and Power Lines

Everyone wants to avoid heartache. Nobody wants to feel the pain and depression that tags along with the possibility of a failed relationship. I’ve talked to a few people the last couple days and I’ve realized that one of the main problems that encircle us through our lives is the fear of being alone. I’m not going to dance around the fact that I, myself, have had my heart broken more than a few times. I’ve also been in a few emotionally abusive situations. The problem with love is that it comes with consequences that few seem to recognize and some tend to overlook the flaws in a person due to infatuation.

 I personally know a few people who would do anything to have someone. The truth is, you can rely on friends your entire life but they would not fill the void of having a person to share everything with. A person to feel romantically connected to. To those people who find themselves lost, and even alone: Do not lose hope. I know these people have heard it over and over again. “You’ll find somebody, you’re a great person.”, or “I wish there was something more I could do for you, but don’t worry, the second you stop looking, she’ll find you.” The truth is, it can be extremely difficult to find someone who suits your personality. And an even larger fear of mine is that these people will end up settling for an abusive person because their fear of being alone will overwhelm them. You really aren’t alone. There’s someone out there right now who you are perfect for, you just have to have patience. All good things come to those that wait, and even if the waiting seems to go on forever, that’s only because you need more time to develop yourself as a person. Discover yourself, love yourself. In order to give love to anyone else, you must first have confidence in yourself. Another thing I’m concerned with is change. Embrace who you are, and don’t change yourself to better suit someone else. If they want you to change, they want someone other than who you really are. I know it’s difficult, and I know it gets lonely and some days it’s unbearable. Just because you need someone there for you, doesn’t mean you should sacrifice your individuality. A controlling relationship is not a real relationship.

 Avoid such promises as “I promise I will never leave you”, truth is, a promise doesn’t really mean a thing anymore. People seem to take meaningless words and throw an “I promise you,” in front of it, and all of a sudden, you’re in love. Hollow words will not prove your love. Just because something sounds sweet or romantic, does not make it factual. Instead of “promising”, just show them you care. Instead of filling a person’s mind with words, show them you love them. Take them on a picnic, call just to tell them you were thinking about them, mail them a letter, send them a rose, paint them a picture, something. Anything. Sometimes, the simplest things can hit a person the hardest. Then you will never even have to say that you promise, they’ll just know. Love has always been a big issue for me, I’m afraid of commitment and I will be the first to admit it. However, I encourage everyone else, as well as myself, to take the risk on someone. Even if you have been hurt in the past. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, and there’s always something good that comes out of a mistake. You can learn from a relationship that did not necessarily go according to plan, but that’s how relationships work. Each person is entitled to a choice, and even if you end up hurt in the end, you can continue to apply what went wrong or what you didn’t notice into a newer relationship. If you just sit around and you give up on love, you’re going to be a very miserable person. Everyone needs someone to go to. Everyone wants to get a self-esteem boost every once in awhile. So go ahead and try. Stop sitting around, reading blogs, and go try to better yourself as a person. Say “yes” to life. Make opportunities to just go somewhere and do something. As long as you get out of the house, and put yourself in a situation where you could meet someone, you will eventually find someone to love (whether that be a friend or a lover). You can find love in the most unassuming places.
I have so much more to say on this I just don't think this blog should be 3 pages long. If anyone needs any help or just someone to talk to, try messaging me on my facebook, which you can get through the right pannel on this page.



Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.
It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
I Corinthians 13:4-8

Peanut Brittle and Yorkshire Terriers

The tang of the spearmint gum turns from a pleasurable, mint treat to complete destruction. I wince as the gum slides slightly out of my mouth onto my chapped lips. One sudden pinch; a single jolt sends me out of my comfort zone and onto pain’s front porch. The taste that brought me so much pleasure has betrayed me as the flavor drills into the cuts of my lips. The muttering of my professor fades deeper and deeper until she is no longer audible, which does not really matter to me considering that my spearmint episode left me more awake than I wanted to be. The pain was not as bad as I made it out to seem, just the entrancing taste and smell actually gave me something to do besides listening about axons and reticular formations and I almost heard a part of the lecture when I was maliciously attacked by a piece of candy. God forbid I listen to whatever it is we're supposed to be learning about.
 Psychology has always been something I’ve wanted to be a part of. Something I could relate to, if you will. Critical thinking has always been my forte, and with as many crazy people I’ve had to deal with over the years, it has seemed altogether fitting that I can relate to the insanity. I’ve always been that person that everyone can turn to; The one single human on earth that “understands”. I’m often mistaken for a person who overanalyzes and I’ve been told I “think too much”. I’ve even gotten the whole “live simply, or you’re going to end up miserable and crazy” speech. Truth is, most psychologists are crazy. Why, you ask? Because when you’ve spent your whole life surrounded by people who don’t make a lick of sense, you tend to have a slightly skewed way of thinking, and therefore you can understand the disturbed. You can relate to the disturbed. You become the disturbed. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to run out and beat some old lady up or shoot up a building but I might do something like walk outside and lay down on the sidewalk in December with a rain coat on. YOU might say it’s crazy. I say, it’s what’s stopping me from going crazy (or turning into a zombie).


Sure, this might not seem like a lot of sense to anyone reading this, but I only feel that if I’m going to bother telling you how to live your life or what’s right and what’s wrong, I should let you know a little about myself. When you’re born and raised into a family with money, life doesn’t seem too bad. Life seems worth living. The sun is high in the sky and nobody can tell you that the world is cruel. Until you turn 9 and your mother loses her job, becomes depressed, you’re father’s company goes bankrupt, your adopted sister can’t make a good decision to save her life, and your head explodes. Or until you find out your mother is diagnosed with a fatal disease and your uncle has a brain tumor. Well, life sucks, my friends. That’s the cold hard truth. I’m not here to tell you everything will get better, or that you’ll get lucky and win the lottery. I’m here to tell you that life does throw some pretty heavy boulders in our way and we’ve just got to push through it. It can take is months, years, decades to finally overcome something that has hurt us or thrown us in the dirt, but we can not stop.


Truth is, I have had to deal with some things that I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy (if I had a worst enemy… I don’t know, maybe the burger king guy). My mother suffers from Multiple Sclerosis (MS), my sister was adopted from a family who were major drug addicts and now has problems in school, my uncle is a joke and fired my father before Christmas due to “financial issues” (right before he hired his new son in law), and I’ve pretty much been beaten down by some people that I thought I could trust (figuratively and literally). If anyone has the liberty to tell you that life is difficult, I’m one of those people. However, I’m in school trying to be a better person. I’m trying to help myself to get out of this slump. My only advice for this post is that you should not lie down and let the rest of the world trample you. People are cruel, life hurts, but you have to keep on living it. Don’t lie in your bed and wish things would get better, make things get better. This was more of a venting post for me, but I truly hope that someone got something out of this.


"Dance as though no one is watching you. Love as though you have never been hurt before. Sing as though no one can hear you, and live as though Heaven is on Earth. "



—Anonymous

Inventing Pandora's Tennis Shoes

Rushing to work, hiking around campus, and studying your $200 book… let’s face it, our lives can get pretty overwhelming sometimes and probably what’s worse is that it isn’t going to get any better any time soon. One thing that I’ve been extremely concerned about the last couple of days has been my friends. Sure I’ve met new people and I have a good time with them, however it’s not easy to find people who click with you like the people you have already come to know and experience 4 plus years of your life with.
I can’t necessarily speak for everyone but when it comes to me, I do believe that if it wasn’t for the relationships that I’ve made in high school, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Those people have always been there to pick me up as I have been there to offer a hand to them. Now, of course I’m expecting distance may pose a threat here considering that 2 of my best friends are going to universities 2 plus hours away from me, regardless of the people still within driving distance being busy with school and work. This is expected and a bit of an overwhelming part of truly growing up. I’m not writing this to complain or anything, or to sound desperate. I’m merely saying that the people I adore and need in my life are making just as many new connections as I am, yet I hope we still stay close. It sometimes takes a bit of trial and error to find those certain people that make you feel like you’re worth something. I’ve found a group of people that make me feel like no matter what happens, I can count on them.
At my high school, I had been blessed with the absence of excluding social groups. Now, there were people who hung out with certain people more often than everyone else but nobody really put anyone else down. It was easy to be friendly with everyone and get someone to help you out if you needed it. I’m just kind of writing this for my own pleasure, to be completely honest with you. I just really care about the people who have gone out of their way to put a smile on my face and I couldn’t ask for a better group of friends. We’ve hardly got anything completely in common, yet for some reason we just click. We have a perfect balance and an established understanding of one another and I can truthfully say that I’d do anything for any one of them. Even when life tossed in a few curve balls we could always count on calling someone in the group up and the next thing I knew, we’d be hanging at the coffee house or mini golfing. I couldn’t ask for better friends and I’m sure that we won’t let distance tear us apart.


"Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company."

- George Washington

Text Messaging Pirate Raccoons

“The land of the free”… That used to be a mouthful back when this country was established. We fought for our freedoms, but maybe we should take a step back and look at how “free” we really are. Compared to many countries in Europe, we are a very sheltered and oppressed people.

There have been multiple times in America’s history where our government has tried to place laws banning certain items or practices which, in turn has taken its share of finances. For example, Prohibition in the 1920’s banned the distribution and selling of alcohol. Did this stop the American people? Absolutely not. Instead, the people found it to be a fun game to disobey the government by smuggling alcohol and opening speakeasy’s which illegally sold alcohol. During the 20’s people were so preoccupied by partying and disobeying the law that they forgot that their actions came at an expense. We are only human. And as I recall from being a child, when you tell a kid they can’t do something, it only makes them want to do it more. If the government had been trying to take care of more pressing issues, in theory the Great Depression might not have hit the country as hard.

In my opinion, this country sets itself up for failure by placing laws and bans on certain things that simply will not go away. Another marvelous example would be prostitution. (and before you judge me and take a stab at my morals, allow me to explain). Prostitution has been around since, oh I don’t know, prehistoric times. Simply put, it will not go away and the American government needs to focus on harsher things than a moral dilemma. This country was based on the right to pursue happiness and if that is the way people want to live their lives, so be it. It does not harm the community as a whole and if you would legalize it, sooner or later, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal anymore. People sometimes just do things to rebel. Places where prostitution IS legal, they make the women take a physical once a month to show that she is healthy. If people are going to do it regardless, at least make it safe. I do not technically agree with prostitution, and I think it’s morally wrong and disgusting, however it is the right of the American people to make their own decisions, and it is something that people are still going to find a way around no matter what restrictions are put on it.

Our country is more oppressive than we would like to think. Sure, some restrictions are necessary. I’m not saying you should falsely yell fire in a crowded theater; otherwise this country would be pretty out of control. All I am trying to do is let you recognize that this country was founded by Puritans and, believe it or not, will always still have that Puritan way of thinking. There are more accidents involving alcohol in our country than in countries where the legal drinking age is 16. In Europe, they can walk around naked and there are more sex crimes in America where we look at public nudity as vulgar. (Once again I’m not encouraging people to run around naked. That’s just the way things are here) I’m merely saying that obviously, we’re doing something wrong here. This country is too busy coming up with ways to keep the people under control than coming up with ways to help benefit our lives financially, medically, and securely. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe that the government is one big conspiracy and I think everyone should revolt. I just want people to try to see the big picture here.


Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.
-- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Washed Out Turtle Mobsters

Life has a startling tendency of passing us by. Change alters all things and sometimes it’s almost unbelievable that we’ve overcome so much. Recently, I’ve realized how much I’ve changed over the years, I’ve realized how much I’ve accomplished and how I’ve made it out of some of the bleakest moments in my life. It’s just always stricken me as comical when somebody says something like “You know what? You’ve changed.”



Obviously, to make a choice tends to lead to change. Maybe that’s a choice to eat better food or to hang out with a friend from grade school. To some, a decision that you make may make you feel uneasy at first or even make other people question your choices, but really all that matters is that you know a little more about yourself as a person, and if you don’t like what you’ve become, by all means change again. Without change where would we be, really? I’d hate to think that I’d still be playing in a sandbox with a Barbie at 18 years of age (or power ranger action figures or whatever it is you icky boys used to do as kids). But the BIG idea here is that though we may not enjoy change, or not be able to adjust well to change, itself, it’s something that we all must go through and accept. Change is an opportunity to shape who you are. When something changes will you rise to make the most out of the change, or will you run and hide from it?

 Along with change comes loss, whether that be loss of the old you, a friend, or innocence. To make a change is to risk. Choices affect every aspect of our lives. I could choose to stay home and do my homework, to go work as a volunteer at a soup kitchen, or go out and party with my friends. Each choice takes me into a different path that my life could go down. This is sometimes very overwhelming to the person. Within the last week, I met a girl who is probably one of the most indecisive people I have ever met (which I know is the pot calling the kettle black but still). It is good to analyze a decision before you go ahead and make it, however sometimes you can get too caught up in what might hypothetically happen that you never take a chance. My main thing here is a change is a chance. As scary as it may be sometimes you need to do something spontaneous, do something crazy, and do something that will possibly put a smile on your face. Don’t be afraid to fall, to dance, to scream, to open yourself to something that might alter your path but might make you into a stronger person. Even if you hit the ground at full force, that risk made you that much stronger if you are able to stand up, brush yourself off and continue making decisions that will help you get the most out of life.


"Look, I don't want to wax philosophic, but I will say that if you're alive you've got to flap your arms and legs, you've got to jump around a lot, for life is the very opposite of death, and therefore you must at very least think noisy and colorfully, or you're not alive." --Mel Brooks

Batarangs and Pink Nail Polish

Alright, so as an 18 year old female living in one of the most economically jacked up states in America (pardon my vulgarity), you can only imagine that I have my share of oppinions. I was recently asked to start writing a blog for my English class. We were told to chose a topic and just write. Well, although this may be easy for some, for me it posed a great task. I mean, how am I supposed to pick ONE theme and write about it once a week for 13 weeks? Well, naturally I managed to bend the rules here a little bit. I have WAY too many issues to address than to provide me any specific limitations. So my "theme", so to speak, is going to be very informal. This way, I can talk about the oh so many different topics that I am concerned with. Mind you, before I begin to state my thoughts, I'd like to state beforehand that my oppinions mean no distress to anyone reading and my central goal with this is to motivate people to actually put themselves in other people's shoes and keep an opened mind while listening to other people's output on life. I will try my best to refrain from insulting any person or persons in my writing, (though of course with some people it is difficult to avoid pointing out the obviously dim-witted). My intentions are to try to give people a better understanding of the things they feel so passionately about. Often times, when someone feels passionately enough about a topic, they tend to completely omit others' feelings or perhaps worse, cold hard facts. I merely feel that if you are to feel fervently about something, you better have your information correct. Debating a topic does not require getting hot-headed and telling somebody the views they have are incorrect. The point of my blog is to turn the reader into a critical thinker. In order to do this, you must be able to ask questions about the issue in which you are stating. I'm sure that some of these topics will engage some harsh words but I'd like to humbly ask that we try and keep it PG13 and respect others opinions even if you do not agree with them. We must analyze a topic from all viewpoints before we blindly declare where we stand. Hopefully, I can get you all to listen instead of just hear, and if I can successfully pull this off, I can help the you to examine your own views before you put down someone elses'. Another thing, we are human. We make mistakes. It is better to admit that mistake, rather continue feebly through an argument that you do no longer agree with.



As I go through my everyday life, I notice more and more that people argue about fairly simple things. I am one to discuss an issue before raising my voice or throwing a tantrum. Not everbody thinks the same way I do, but I find that with my way, you don't waste time trying to convince someone that is too angry to even consider your oppinion. A dicussion can easily turn into a yelling match, and that is something I like to avoid. As I go through my week, usually something will spark my interest and I'll discuss it in my blog. Whether this will be my sister complaining about my mother being too controlling, or a friend's parents saying that they disapprove of gay marriage because of their religion. I could go for hours on these topics, people. I simply want to address problems and issues that come up casually in my every day life that I feel the need to talk about.



I'm going to try to keep this as informal as possible because I'm crazy indecisive and I get bored easily and I want to keep this as interesting for you as possible so excuse my lack of an exceedingly extended vocabulary. Another thing I tend to do, is give advice. It may seem like just some random rambling but I usually have a person in mind that needs to hear what I'm saying and sometimes, things just look better when written out.
 (Another thing I'd like to do is provide you all with some sort of inspirational quote that pertains to the topic discussed in the blog I choose to write.)




"The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: be satisfied with your opinions and content with your knowledge." -Elbert Hubbard