A salty tear slides past my lips
and from my chin, it softly drips.

Pre-req to a Real Post.

Dante, St. Augustine, C.S. Lewis, and Lew Wallace. The end.

The Lady of Shalott

His broad clear brow in sunlight glow'd;
On burnish'd hooves his war-horse trode;
From underneath his helmet flow'd
His coal-black curls as on he rode,
As he rode down to Camelot.
From the bank and from the river
He flashed into the crystal mirror,
"Tirra lirra," by the river
Sang Sir Lancelot.

Royal Family Kids Camp

We're back from RFKC! Oh my Guinness, it was a long week! Despite being long, tiring, and down right difficult, it was absolutely incredible! Those kids broke my heart... *sigh* They each had so many problems and at such a young age! The youngest children there were 6 years old... one of those little ones had to be sent home on the first day... He had a fit and began to bang his head against the corner of the bed. The poor thing had to be restrained for an hour or two, just so he wouldn't hurt himself further...

I'm really not one to cry at the drop of a pin, but the very thought of all of those children makes my eyes prick. It was tragic, having to see them go home to who knows what. Especially my little boys of cabin 5! Fortunately, Ryan and his sister Emerald are in the process of being adopted, but Axel and Angel just want to go back to their real moms. And Kyler had nothing more to look forward to than returning to a group home... Ms. Micaela and all the counselors were such a blessing in these kids' lives! Thank you all!

I tried to start this post as soon as I got home, but I couldn't write anymore, and now I find it just as difficult. If any of you wants to know more about camp, let me know. And please don't worry. The good far outweighed the bad and there were many ridiculous, funny stories I *could* tell. Maybe later.

Yes, that is my eye.

Music to Grow Up On

Some of you may notice the new playlist of music. I thought I might educate y'all on the songs that I grew up on. Some of my earliest memories are of listening to these songs. It's a pretty fun playlist if you're into that sort of thing. Here's a list of what's there at the moment:

Immigrant Song- Led Zepplin
Come Together- Aerosmith
People Are Strange- The Doors
Heartbeat City- The Cars
Rock the Casbah- The Clash
Walk This Way- Aerosmith
San Francisco- Scott McKenzie
Uneasy Rider- The Charlie Daniels Band*
Life's Been Good- Joe Walsh*
Hotel California- The Eagles*
Jack and Diane- John Mellencamp*
Don't Take the Girl- Tim McGraw*
One Tin Soldier- Coven*
The 59th Street Bridge Song- Simon and Garfunkel*
Piano Man- Billy Joel
California Dreamin'- The Mammas and the Pappas*
I'm Blue (remix)- DJ-Axe
Land Down Under- Men at Work
Eye of the Tiger- Survivor
The Final Countdown- Europe*
The Crocodile Rock- Sir Elton John*
Dream On- Aerosmith*

Note: Songs with *asterisks are the very oldest listening.

Sooo Vogue!

The Inspiration






The Recreation





Mandy and I were very, very bored. After laughing over the insanely inpractical hair-stylings in TeenVogue, we decided to recreate them for ourselves. Naturely, Mandy got to be the model. hehe There were about four curlers and ten million bobby pins in her hair. (okay, maybe not that many) And yes, her eyebrows were extended, thickened, and darkened with eyeliner. (eyebrow pencil comes off too easy) Thank you Mandy for letting me post these!! *muah*

The Wind in the Joshua Trees

The June trip to Lake Mohave is almost always a terribly windy trip. For those of you who have never been to a lake, I should probably clarify what this means. You see, most water sports require relatively flat water to be properly enjoyed. With the interference of wind, inter-tubing becomes even more nerve-wracking, water skiing and wake boarding is all but hateful, and even simple boat rides are bone-rattling, white knuckle experiences. Clearly, anything beyond a gentle breeze is most unwelcome to even the least seasoned of boaters.

This year turned out no better than predicted. Friday through Sunday were absolutely gusty, with Thursday and Monday being the days when most everyone but us was not yet there or had already left. On those windy days we weren't even able to venture out onto the water... Lets just say that we all played far too much poker and read far too much for our own good. I got through a novelty read just Friday and through most of 'Surprised by Joy' by C.S. Lewis (a highly worth while read, by the bye). However, the entire time did not go to waste.

My dear Uncle Gregory and Aunt Julie McGinity (the fantastically politically minded and beautifully conservative ones) and their two charming little girls (adjective overload!!!) joined us for the weekend. Whenever we get to spend time with them, it means a great deal of heavy discussion (with the whole family getting heatedly involved)will be going on. Over dinner we debated my future college plans and current academic and extracurricular choices. ("Is it time to rag on Kait again?!" -Uncle Greg (Don't worry, entirely sarcastically)) While on a boat ride we argued about the founding of America, whether or not Israel is a theocracy (which it most certainly is not!!), and whether or not we should have God's name on our money and in our pledge. You know, light, frivolous topics. Oh my Guinness, I truly love my family!

Fortunately for the sake of that family I so dearly love (Grandmum was getting a little exasperated with all the Republicans...), Monday was beautiful! Erin and Nora both got up on the Skimmer board and, though there were a few tears involved, "it was fun because Uncle Bob went reaaaly reaaaly slow for [them]". We even got Uncle Gregory to ski despite his "delicate tastes" when it comes to water temperature and ideal weather conditions. I still don't think he really figured out "what the heck [was] up with those frickin' crocodiles!". Greg, Julie, Grandpa, Dad, and I all skied but Mum could not be rallied into joining. We'll get her next time! And Jess and Zach both wake boarded. The weekend in entirety ended quite well, now on to Royal Family Kids Camp!

I Promise...

to post as soon as I have time and it won't turn out incoherent from my lack of sleep!

Musings of a Burnt Pagan

Merciful Heavens! Lately, I've been feeling rather heretical! You see, I haven't been to church in quite a long time... Two Wednesdays past, I was unable to attend CSM. Though I did make it to church last Sunday, this past Wednesday I was absent once again. Today, I was out of town. This upcoming Wednesday my sister has a choral performance that my family will be going to see. And lastly, next Sunday my aunt is taking my grandmum, mum, sister, and I out to tea in the morning... But you know what? You don't need to be on the church campus to experience God's Grace and Goodness.

Out here in the desert, sometimes He feels closer than ever. Waterskiing always leaves me awestruck at His Greatness. Flying through the air, clear, blue sky above, and deep, glassy water below, craggy mountains painted the same shades as a sunset, His amazing creation shines forth. Besides the earth itself, aren't we amazing creations? It blows me away how He has created us, human beings, with the intelligence to invent things like boats and skis... with balance and agility to sail above the water with nothing but a plank of fiberglass beneath our feet. And then... I jump, getting that much closer to Heaven.

If it weren't for the sake of "community" and fellowship, I might just begin to think that the Earth itself is all the church we need. Because truly, what is a church besides a place to worship our Lord? Isn't that something we can do anywhere, anytime?

At the moment, I am so sunburnt I can barely move my fingers to type this. I ache all over and my skin feels as dry as the cracked clay that covers the beaches. But God is still good. I forget that sometimes, you know? Getting so wrapped up in the frivolous that we forget the profoud. I wonder how much He misses us, when we his people don't take the time to talk to Him... Do me a favor? Pray.

Fantastic!

We do indeed have both internet and cell connection... in the motorhome. On the lake, just about any device requiring a signal is useless. However, up at the campground it seems to be just fine. If anyone needs to contact me, both my cell phone and e-mail are up and running.

Untitled Post

On Tuesday morning, the "minor cold" I've had for several weeks decided to morph into a full-on sinus attack. Feeling like death itself, I stayed home from school on both Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday evening, deciding I could probably benefit from reviewing the material for the AP World History test on Thursday morning, I went to Mr. Turner's after-school review. It ended up being a complete waste of time. I happen to be a *terrible* studier. Focusing on a review book is just not my cup of tea. Soo... I ended up playing guitar for a couple hours, just so that when Mandy texted to make sure I was studying, I could honestly say I was... I mean, I didn't have to tell her *what* I was studying!

The AP World History test went surprisingly well. I don't want to get my hopes up too high, but I do think that I passed. Yay!

Right now, it is Friday morning and we are gassing up at the Flying J in Lenwood. These boating trips are incredibly traditional. Every trip, we get up ridiculously early and meet up at our Grandpa and Grandmum J's home. Then, we drive. No one is allowed to put on a movie until we hit the freeway. We stop for breakfast at the McDonald's in Lenwood. We drive. We reach the destination (usually either Mead or Mohave). We check in. We get the hotel room/motor home settled. We launch the boat. We drive around the lake, looking for a beach. We find a beach. We set up the shade tarp. All the adults sit down in their favorite chairs with a beer and no intention of moving the rest of the day. The teenagers bug my dad to take us skiing. He gives in. We ski for a couple hours. We get back to the beach. Everyone closes the tarp and chairs. We head back to the marina. We clean up. We have dinner. We sleep. For the next 3 days, repeat from "all the adults" to "sleep". I love it but it is extremely routine.

I don't know whether or not I'll have cell signal/internet connection once we reach the lake. If I do, I'll post as soon as we get there. Adios for now!

For Mandy and Bobby: Marta (the man), Marsha, and Squeegie

"Nooo! Marta! Escuchas! No tenemos tiempo!"

My fellow Spanish students are so very dense.

Dylan believed Bobby. Who does that? I mean, honestly, he is probably THE WORST liar I know. (Don't worry, Bobby, that's a good thing! It means you don't have much occasion to practice!) Supposedly, my name is actually "Marsha", but since that is such a wretched name, I prefer to go by "Kaitlyn"... Yes, someone actually believed that.

(Marta & Squeegie: there'll be more to come later)

esYay, t'siay niay igPay atinLay!

kayOay, 'allyay illway robablypay indfay histay eryvay nnoyingaay fteray whileay. ctuallyAay, ustjay ritingway neoay entencesay niay igPay atinLay siay nnoyingaay. uahahahahahahahahaMay! ouYay eesay, Iay appenhay otay ebay (bayeay ahay!) eryvay iredtay ndaay uiteqay uiltygay boutaay otnay ostingpay niay whileaay... Iay asway isteninglay otay "ibberishGay" ybay elientRay Kay ndaay asway nspirediay otay riteway niay ibberishgay orfay ymay extnay ostpay... oweverHay, Iay maay indingfay histay xtremelyeay orridhay ndaay illway ownay tartsay ypingtay niay omethingsay oremay ntelligibleiay:

Is this better? I think so at least... Heavens! Anyways, on to a subject that is at least slightly less bothersome... the weather! The past couple of days have been simply splendid! Just chilly enough for a sweater and a cup of tea and not 100 degrees like it was at the beginning of the week! I don't know about you, but I abhor hot weather. Warm is pleasant, cool is fantastic, but anything above 85 degrees is out of my comfort zone.



This was the view from the back yard yesterday... now if only that were London Fog and this really were a castle... Actually, I've heard that castles are quite drafty... maybe not the best place for me, who seems to be cold *all the time*. Bother. I suppose that's what long-sleeved gowns are for?

I was reading Jonathan's blog this afternoon and realized that I had not posted anything at all about the Easter play! If I haven't already raved to you about why the Easter play is so fantastic, you can read his post about it since it pretty much sums it all up. (Philosophic Minstrel's latest post "Resurrected Drunken Pirates: Reflections on Holy Week")

There's just a bit of the craziness...

Alright, I really didn't have much to say today... perhaps I'll post again later this weekend whilst avoiding the STAR Test Prep...

P.S. Just in case y'all were wondering, I do, in fact, have all of the lyrics (gibberish included) memorized to that song...

P.P.S. If ANYONE has a suggestion for my 16th birthday party, please let me know!!! Mum is starting to do more than threaten and I need to come up with somehthing quick!

I realized that I have not exactly been focusing my mind on the good lately. I have been veering toward the negative, cynical side of my nature; that side that is to be denied. Going through my recent blog posts, every one seems to be negative or dark or weary. In Paul's letter to the Philippians he wrote:

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." – Philippians 4:8

Recently, I was conversing with a dear friend about our "very most favorite things". As I started thinking about it, I remembered back to last year when Meaghan and I, not paying as much attention as we should have been in Science class, decided to exchange a list of our favorite things. (Daniel, you might remember something about that.) We passed a note back and forth for several days, simply writing down ridiculous things that made us happy. To remedy the negativity of my recent posting habits, I've decided to start a list, much like the one Meagh and I wrote last year. Y'all are welcome to post your own lists of "very most favorite things" in the comment box! Here are a few of mine:

Jesus (Sunday school answer!), the Trinity (the more accurate description), relatable Bible verses, glassy water, blue skies with thunder clouds on the horizon, warm feet, soft blankets (can y'all tell I'm sitting on my bed whilst I type this?), crunching leaves, stale peeps (the candy, not the slang term for friends), loud music, background noise, crowds, psycho-analysis, utter silence, Mike Huckabee, old pictures, big hugs, that new book smell, yarn between my hands, dynamic piano music, new good-smelling shampoo, a kitchen warmed by a baking oven, fresh cookies, hot tea that burns your tounge, antique headboards, English gardens, Socratic Circles, heated discussions, fingerless gloves, MY freshly shaved legs (haha, Daniel!), and Meaghan's too (David!), pens with flowing ink, aching fingers, red lipstick, Converse Chucks, big sweatshirts, Disney movies, British accents, good books (though they are a rarity), Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy (the hero from Pride and Prejudice, Steven!), water skis, flowery language, great quotes, un-scented lotion, warm sunshine, rainy days, a single lamp being turned on, flowy-skirts, dear friends, long lists!

Though I doubt many of you took the time to read through all of that, those are a few of my most favoritest things! I encourage you this week to really think about those things that make you really and truly happy. Not necessarily silly things like most of what I mentioned above, but what brings you honest to goodness joy.

Babblings of an Insomniac

I cannot sleep. Over the course of Spring Break, I have gotten into the habit of going to bed at 10:30-11ish. Quite a good habit to get into when in need of sleep. However, I find that tonight sleep escapes me. It is a night when everything seems to be against my getting any rest. There is a cricket chirping outside my window whose lullaby, usually so sweet, is nothing but grating to my ears. He will go quiet and then, just as soon as I think myself ready to forgive his former annoyance, start up as loudly and persistently as cricket-ly possible. My glow-in-the-dark Converse, whose faint glow generally causes no trouble, nag at the peripherals of my vision, even with eyes shut tight. Try as I might to push thoughts from my conscious mind, they crowd back with a vengeance, vying for space to parade before my eye-lids and remind me of all that needs to be done. I suppose forcing the mind into a quiescent state works against itself. The sheep have departed, most probably fatigued from jumping the fence so many times. I don't blame them. They were getting over-worked.

Wandering wraith-like through the house does me no good, serving only to remind me of my solitude at an hour so late. The deathly quiet permeates into my very being; I no longer know if I remember how to make a noise. The clicking of knitting needles does not soothe a restless spirit. Nor does the muffled ruffling of turning pages. The hum of the computer sitting atop my lap and the constant clicking of keys is doing naught but increase my growing headache. And yet, what else is there to do when the rest of the house is sleeping? Hot tea, an all-curative, requires the whistling of a kettle. Musical instruments are quite obviously sonant. Mindless television is a waste of time, whether there is time to be wasted or not. Be there any cure for an insomniac?

I find myself complaining about being awake. Or, if complaining is the wrong word, lamenting works just as easily. Perhaps I should veer to a more light-hearted subject? How about guitar chords? Yes, yes. I think that shall suit just fine... Of late, I have been playing the guitar more oft than usual. I find it not only a calming release, but also a useful instrument. Mandy mentioned to me several months ago that she greatly enjoyed playing worship songs because she found that the chord progressions generally fit the way they were to be sung. I now find this statement to be entirely accurate. With most songs containing the same chords, worship music seems an excellent (and simplistic) form of praise, any time or place. "Enough" and "God of Wonders" have quickly become two of my favorites. If only I could learn to play piano chords! hmph. Though I love the piano, its soft tone and delicate airs, powerful harmonies and underlying rhythm, I'm surprisingly finding the guitar much easier to pick up. Unfortunately, no instrument is at the moment anything near a priority compared to this last quarter of Sophomore year.

Let it be over! I realize that I am only a Sophomore and should be enjoying high school; reveling in being a teenager and not yet having to start a career or pay taxes. However, I find myself longing for adult-hood. (And no, not just to vote President Obama out of office.) High school grows monotonous and insipid. It seems to be only an interim period before life can start and I can "go my own way", so to speak. Okay, I realize I am making absolutely no sense now. Just let it be known that I would graduate tomorrow in a heartbeat and let it be done with if given the chance.

This post is getting quite long... Meaghan will probably have given up reading several paragraphs ago. For the sake of my readers, I shall be done. Wish me luck! I'm off to once again attempt to slip into a peaceful slumber... I don't have too high a hope.

For Meagh: French Pop

Because Miss Meaghan Henderson laughs at my more serious blog posts, I figured I might appease her and post something truly random and entirely without purpose. This one's for you, Meagh...

This music video is from the French pop duo "Archimède". As it's in French, I have no clue what they're singing about and couldn't find a translation online, but it's actually quite catchy in an odd sort of way... The video itself is rather clever, take a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-SaOAx5lsw

Oh, and on the subject of Meaghan... I SCORED 100 POINTS AHEAD OF HER ON THE STAR TESTS! 535 vs. 435/600!BEAT THAT MEAGH! (just to prove the point that you will undoubtledly make on your own blog about how I was rubbing it in all day) Love ya! Even if I can blow you out of the water in English... ;)

Heavy Eye-lids Begging to Slam Shut

****Warning: This post is highly Schizophrenic! If you're not used to following my rather random train of thought, you may get lost along the way! You have been warned...****

Being condemned to the life of a California public school student is truly a punishment never to be wished upon even the most heinous of sinners. Today, the entire Sophomore class (and those very few unlucky Juniors who were unable to pass last year) took the CAHSEE exam. I must say that the California High School Exit Exam was the easiest test I have ever taken. To be quite honest, I could have finished the entire thing within the confines of second period had there not been those horrible "STOP"s within the test. Who needs break when you can finish and get it over with? Fortunately, however, it got us all out of the first three periods of the day and a good portion of the fourth... Meaghan and I constantly compete to be the first finished. No matter what test it is, we always seem to be in subconcious competition. Silly, we both know, but we can't help it! Anyways, this time around, Meagh and I (who were sitting directly next to eachother) slowed down in order to miss more of fourth period... Y'all can't really blame me for that one! I have Shibuya fourth! The insane math teacher who wishes he could teach Ethics but is too wrapped up in pointing out people's faults to really teach much of anything! Okay, the Shibuya rant can wait for later... Back to Meaghan and I... We both watched Mandy for a cue on when to turn the page to slow us down, but she was *too* slow! We actually ended up turning pages with Maggie, finishing everything on them, and then sitting there and waiting... and waiting... and waiting... then repeating the process. What fun!



As I was sitting in Phys. Ed. today, I noticed something that greatly discouraged me. I had the misfortune of getting stuck just in front of a group of the more questionable Freshman and having to listen to their extremely loud conversation about what they had done last weekend. One girl (who we will name Lilith, as I know no one else of that name) was talking about how she had a party at her house to smoke some weed while her parents were gone. Lilith then proceeded to tell the world about all of the ridiculous things she and her druggie friends did while they were high, as though she should be given a medal of honor for her deeds! This led me to compare my life with hers... This past weekend, I spent time with my friends at church; learning about the Peace of the Lord and praying for one another. Her definition of "fun" and mine were completely different. My soul mourned for this girl who was so obviously lost in the world... I found myself praying for Lilith, a girl I hardly know and have never seriously spoken to, asking for her eyes to be opened to the Light. And you know what? It happens all the time. Not a day goes by that I don't see some one like Lilith, completely oblivious to the fact that they don't need the things of this world to bring them happiness... that they can have Divine Joy in our Lord, Jesus Christ. This all reminded of me of a specific Psalm I had read the other day. Psalm 119 to be precise. It is much to long to post in entirety here, but when you get the chance, look it up! It is my prayer...

As you can probably tell, I have been weary lately. Not only physically tired, but mentally and spiritually as well. Matthew 11:28-30 has been my constant encouragement... Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Weary and burdened? That's me!! Rest for my soul? Sign me up!! At times though, it is so so very difficult to find that rest... that peace that He promises. It requires complete surrender; a total laying down of all of our worries at His feet and an *acceptance* of His rest... Hey guys, would you please remember me in your prayers this week? There are some things that I just can't let go of... that I have not yet left entirely up to our Maker... Luke 14:26-27

There Has Been a Conversion!

Don't worry, I haven't converted to Cullenism or anything (keep trying Mandy!). I've simply converted my blog, Lovely Insanity, from Wordpress to Blogger! You see, using up to four different blogging websites to view all of my friends blogs was getting a little ridiculous. And, as I couldn't really ask them to all change to Wordpress, I decided to convert mine so I wouldn't be pulling up so many web-pages all the time...

I've added music (that you may or may not be a fan of). It comes on automatically when you open my blog so, if you would like to Pause/Change the Song/Turn it Off, scroll down to the playlist on the bottom.

Up the Hill

This afternoon, I found myself to be entirely spent of any and all energy. Whilst palliating the complete lack of vigor with a nap, I was blessed with a rather peculiar dream... Dreams, I think, are incredibly personal things. They are the inner workings of the mind and how the brain processes your experiences and thoughts...  In general, my dreaming tends to be either complete story lines with extremely random plots or incoherent wandering through seemingly unconnected topics. However, this dream was very specific. 'Twas more of a memory, really; a vivid picture of something that had happened last weekend. Saturday last, I went down to Redondo Beach to help out with my cousin Nora's 7th birthday party. She was having a Fairy Hollow Scavenger Hunt and I was in charge of leading a group of first graders all across a wilderness park in order to collect "gems". One of the last clues led us up an extremely steep path to the top of a hill. All the little girls raced up the incline, slipping and falling on the treacherous hike but eager as ever to make it to the final prize at the top. It made me think of Jesus telling his disciples to "become like little children" (Matthew 18:3); humble before the Lord in order to reach the Kingdom of God. My little "fairies" had only one goal in mind, to reach the final treasure. Despite all of the bumps and hardships in reaching it, they took the narrow road, the direct route to the top of the hill. I realize that y'all have probably heard ten thousand sermons preached on what it really means to "be like little children", but watching my girls struggling up the hill, focused on the destination, made me truly think about the meaning. Kids take the most direct path. They don't overanalyze the issue and search for the easiest route. Instead, they charge full speed; "single-minded, forgetting the things behind and reaching out for the things ahead" (Phillipians 3:13).

"With this goal in mind I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ." (Phillipians 3:14)

Story of My Life

Today, it rained. The floating masses of water that have been hanging over our heads have finally let spill their contents over the earth... Rain is truly a miracle if ever I heard of one. I could sit for hours just listening to the ever-changing beat of the drops outside my window... Unfortunately, I don't have the time for such luxuries... However, on a late Friday afternoon, with nothing better to do, contemplating life is not a completely wasteful use of time. So that's what I did today. Between prayers of thanks for the amazing turn of weather, lazily reading novels, and plunking out skewed melodies on the keyboard, I found that I actually had time to take that moment of silence I was talking about in my last post of significance... I found my mind wandering around thoughts of the future and everything that it holds, both bitter and sweet. Isn't it amazing how He has something planned for each and everyone of us, more fantastic that what we could ever imagine? But no matter how many times I'm reminded of that, the fact continually slips from memory. I have to be reminded that even when we can't see where we're going and are afraid of hitting our knees in the dark, our Guide knows the path. While randomly flipping through the pages of my Bible, Proverbs 20:24 stood out from the page. It said, "The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?"... Talk about an applicable verse! Being naturally prone to worry, particularly about what is to come, learning that there is nothing I can do to change the future, no matter how much I wish I could just tweak a few things, is harder than climbing Mt. Everest, and if not for our Lord, nearly as cold a journey...........

Suck Fish and Knit Jerseys...

This post is really nothing more than the much awaited work-day pictures (Thank-you, Oksana!!)

 







Oh, and this lovely video. I don't knit to get my mind off of eating, honest! =)

http://yoplait.com/spots/yoplait_standalone.swf?video=0

My Sincerest Apologies

to you all who have already read that last post!! It is entirely the incomprehensible musings of a tired mind and much too introspective for most of you to truly understand. Last night, I really just began typing as I was thinking and thus, the post wandered through subjects and cut off abruptly in several places...  sorry 'bout that!!!

Once In a Blue Moon

I've never quite understood that phrase so, if you know the origins of it, please inform me...

I haven't really had much to blog about lately, whether it be an epiphany about the color green or a rant about Patrick Dempsey. To be quite honest, this past week was really just one long study session, spanning over, seemingly, every waking second of my life. Finals. Curses be upon them and those who thought up such vile things! I understand they are some-what necessary, but they're a nuisance none the less. Fortunately, they all went reasonably well and are finally over! It is now "stress-free" week (as if there ever truly was such a thing!) However, to date, the week has been a far cry from its namesake. Oh the joys of teenage existence! -.- Between playing catch-up with all of my ridiculously behind schedule teachers, worrying over my academic future (PSAT scores are coming in soon!), and attempting to manage some sort of sanity (or insanity, as it were) I haven't had much time to really take a second and stop. Have you tried that recently? Just pausing, if even for a moment, to think about nothing but silence. peace. calm... I certainly don't get enough of that on a day to day basis. No matter how many times I hear that sermon about how the Lord speaks in the silence, watch that Nooma video with Rob Bell turning off the TV, or write "Be Quiet!" in my planner, I never seem to be able to consistently uphold that ideal. There's always something else to think about; something else to do; another thing to add to the endless list of things that need to be done before I can start anything else. *sigh*

To change the subject before I start to ramble about silence in the midst of choas, I sorted through my desk drawer yesterday! It was truly an amazing experience! You see, I generally toss whatever interesting bits of paper I have lying around into that drawer, as well as knick-knacks and other oddities. Whilst I was digging through the black hole, I came across an old notebook, full of things I can't remember writing but must have, as they were in my script. Amongst the beginnings of short stories and hastily jotted lines of verse, I found a poem. 'Twas almost complete, needing improvement certainly, but not entirely without potential as most of the rest seemed to be. What made it stand out though, was its tone. If ever I were to write poetry, most would expect it to be light-hearted, full of ridiculous rhymes and to be taken at face value. Oddly enough, this unnamed bit of writing was dark, free-verse, and full of dual meanings. Isn't it interesting how we can go through stages of life, obviously ones that hit us hard, and then forget them, just as quickly as they come? I don't know when I wrote it, it had no date. I don't know why I wrote it, there was no explanation. The spelling was atrocious and the rhythm was slightly off. But it must have meant something to me... another thing to ponder in my "free time"...

Finally!

Finally! A good picture of the girls, together, from homecoming! (Jami, we missed you!!) 'Twas hiding on Mandy's facebook page!


Pictures and commentary on the Youth Work Day today will be posted as soon as Oksana e-mails me the pics. :)

Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! In case you couldn't already tell, I'm kind of really freaking out right now. "Why?", you may ask? I'm starting driving classes tomorrow!!!!!!!!! It's not that the classes themselves scare me, but when Dad asks me if I want to drive home from church, I'm not going to have an excuse to say no! =O Sunday evening, he and I went out to the Fry's in Pomona. I don't know if any of you have ever been to Fry's but basically, it's a computer geek's heaven. It's a *gigantic* store chock-full of anything computer related that you might, and probably won't, ever need. Anyways, back to the story. It was a little past 6:30 and already dark. The parking lot was jam-packed with shoppers and it was at least a half hour drive back on a crowded free-way and Dad tried to get me to drive home! I'm telling you, he must be crazy! O_O

And another video:

Maybe Steven should watch this one.... Just kidding.... that would be bad.

Hey look!

Remind y'all of anyone?

Too Weird Not to Share!

Okay I happened across this video today and found it too weird/creepy not to share with all of you! :) Even if the main plot was written by a little kid, I'm sensing some serious communist sub-themes... Tell me what you think!