Day 5: Quote of the Day

Jabberwocky
-Lewis Carroll

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.


"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.


`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

Day 4: A Good Book

Day 3: A Television Program You Watch Way Too Much

Day 2: A Movie You Want to See

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I!! I really cannot wait.

Day 1: A Newly Discovered Song

Honestly, I haven't much time to construct a legitimate post tonight. In any case, the list must start today or it will never be started at all. Please forgive the length and content, at least it is something!

This song has been stuck in my head for several weeks now. It's quite brilliant and quite bizarre- a perfect combination, I think.


Plenty of Paper by Eisley

Something's growing under that wing
I think a face is dawning
Oh no the books are growing faces
And you're lost quite classically
With your nose in a book
And it seems so fitting
And perhaps this is the end we've sought after for so long
And perhaps now it's done

Cause we've found all the dire dreams of men and machines
And turned them all around our identical hands
Composing our commands
I cut the moon in half
And stuck a piece to my hair
It made the back of my head glow
Golden yellow and then I took
Ten stars on sticks and placed them in my small metal
Bucket and I gave the other half of the moon to you
Ooh, so you wouldn't forget me while I'm gone

Cause we found all the dire dreams of men and machines and
Turned them all around to
Enjoy them and benefit ourselves
Our paperback books, our charming looks
Our identical hands
Composing our commands
And oh my love
We can live on the sun
And wouldn't we be attractive
Riding in our shiny motor cars
With eyeglasses full of stars
And plenty of paper for scenery paintings

'cause we found all the dire dreams of men and machines and
Turned them all around to
Enjoy them and benefit ourselves
Our paperback books, our charming looks
Our identical hands
Composing our commands

To keep me on track...

Miss Guerra had this nifty little list on her blog and I, having had a terrible case of writers block for the past several months, decided that it might just get me out of this writing rut. Starting tomorrow.

Day 01 — A newly discovered song.
Day 02 — A movie you want to see.
Day 03 — A television program you watch too much.
Day 04 — A good book.
Day 05 — Quote of the Day.
Day 06 — Something random.
Day 07 — A photo that makes you happy.
Day 08 — A photo that makes you angry/sad.
Day 09 — A photo you took.
Day 10 — A photo of you taken over ten years ago.
Day 11 — A photo of you taken recently.
Day 12 — Something random.
Day 13 — A fictional book
Day 14 — A non-fictional book.
Day 15 — Something that is currently over-rated.
Day 16 — A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 — An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
Day 18 — Something random.
Day 19 — A talent of yours.
Day 20 — A hobby of yours.
Day 21 — A pair of shoes.
Day 22 — A website.
Day 23 — A YouTube video.
Day 24 — Something random.
Day 25 — Your day, in great detail.
Day 26 — Your week, in great detail.
Day 27 — This month, in great detail.
Day 28 — This year, in great detail.
Day 29 — Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days.
Day 30 — Something random

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)

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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!