Weddings

My third cousin, Sam*, got married yesterday in Smallville*, where my grandparents live. It was a pretty short ceremony (thank God) and really cute. I’ve only been to a handful of weddings, about ten maybe.
My first one was a month after I was born (I don’t really remember it that well…), where my Uncle Chris* and Aunt Andrea* got married. Chris had been married once before and had my cousins Leanne* and May*. Leanne is now twenty-five (May is twenty-two), and got married last October to Ethan*. It was a very small wedding (fifty people total) on my grandparent’s farm. It was a beautiful day, like yesterday for Sam’s, and it was maybe fifteen minutes. I was the designated DJ. I hit the play button and stood on the porch. “Woo” right? It wasn’t too bad though. I felt like actually contributed to the wedding, so I felt better.
Anyway, I basically have my whole life planned out. I don’t know…I’m one of those people that has everything planned out and makes those lists of everything…NO I am not OCD! Anyways, I want a BIG wedding, lots of friends and family. I want to have it in one of three places: my church, my grandpa’s church in Omaha (which is basically the most beautiful church ever), or an Episcopal church in Des Monies (easiest place for both sides of my family to meet: half lives Eastern Iowa and the other half in Omaha). I want my dress to look like Princess Belle’s, except white with lots of lace and detailed, fancy stuff. I would have my reception in a nice hotel ballroom. The end! I know it may sound shallow, but I’ve wanted the Princess wedding. I seriously thought I was a princess from the time I was two to about the age of five. If you ask my parents they will back me up one hundred percent. Here’s a picture of the dress:

Just For Kicks and Giggles

Like my cousins, my dance teacher Renee*, showed me a couple of really funny videos on YouTube. I’m sure at least one of you people out there has seen “David After Dentist”. It seriously makes me laugh for days after watching it. I just got done watching it and it all ready brightened my day. Here’s the link if you want a good laugh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txqiwrbYGrs. He’s a seven-year-old who went to the dentist and is a little…goofy from the laughing gas. I think it’s pretty hilarious; it gives me a good chuckle every time I think about it.
There’s another video, that Renee showed me, it’s called “Kitten’s Inspired by Kittens”. It’s a book of about kittens, which a little girl gives the pictures something funny to talk about. This one makes me laugh harder than “David After Dentist”. Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtX8nswnUKU. Don’t worry, no kittens were harmed in the making of this video.

*Names have been changed

Music Talk No. 1

Over the last few years, my taste in music has changed quite a bit. I’ve been introduced and influenced a lot by my parents. My dad loves rock. Good rock. We’re talking The Who, AC/DC, The Beach Boys, The Eagles, ZZ Top, Guns N’ Roses, Van Halen, Sweet, REO Speedwagon, Aerosmith, Journey, ABBA (yes he likes ABBA) etc. etc. My mom has a huge variety in what she likes. She’s likes The Beatles, Queen, Level 42, Chilliwack, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, Elvis Presley (dad likes Elvis too, but who doesn’t?), Styx, James Taylor (dad likes him too), Seal, The Eurythmics, etc. etc. Of course, I love all of these bands and music too. My sister is a totally different story. She loves that crap that’s on the radio nowadays. I hate almost all of it. There’s only a handful of good music on those stations. I used to love it too when I was her age though, so hopefully she’ll grow out of it. I listen to the “80’s 90’s and today”’s music, the rock stations, and the OLD SCHOOL stations. You know the ones that play the Beatles, Elton John, and The Partridge Family? Those ones. LOVE IT!



Anyway, my best friend, Jeremy* has introduced me to a lot of really good music too, Nirvana, Pink Floyd (my dad and grandpa love them), UFO, Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley, The Rolling Stones, etc. He goes through phases in music. A year ago he was jamming out to rap, you know, like, Lil’ Wayne and Tupac. Now he’s started playing guitar and loves all that grunge stuff. But I’ve also introduced him to Aerosmith, The Who, and Van Halen. Kudos to me right? Music really influences his life and it really influence’s mine also. I take nine dance classes, tap, ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, lyrical, contemporary, a technique class, and I’m learning a duet with my best friend Jennifer*, and I help teach a combo class (four and five year olds). So music is a big part in my life too. I love listening to happy and fast music, but I also love the slow songs that make you relax, like Enya. I really think I have good taste in music, and lots of people will vow that I do too, so pardon me if I sound big-headed over here.
I will warn you now, that I am about to go off on a tangent (this will happen A LOT): I hate people who wear band shirts who know like, one song by them. I will NOT wear a band shirt unless I know AT LEAST one or two songs by them that are not on the radio. Like Nirvana, I own a shirt by them and I know almost every song by them from just hearing it. I’m sure only the big Nirvana fans have heard and liked their first album, “Bleach” which, is nothing like their later stuff. I used to own a Beatles shirt, but out grew it. Band shirts I need to get (not want, NEED) are: Aerosmith (probably my favorite band), Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones (BUT! I need to listen to more of their music to know if I like them and are allowed to own a shirt. Yes, I follow my own rules). Maybe an AC/DC one and Led Zeppelin one if I find I like more of their stuff. I also have a Bob Marley shirt, and I had a friend ask me if I actually liked him and listened to him (because I do not seem like the kind of person who would listen to his songs about getting high). I said yes, in fact my ring tone is “Keep On Moving” by him. But I will admit that I need to listen to more of his music. It just goes to show that everyone who wears a band shirt doesn’t necessarily like or listen to that band. They just wear it because it’s a fad. I am NOT one of those people. Thank you.

*Names have been changed

School Dances

So, school dances right? You either love them, or hate them. In movies, there’s a picture painted that everyone looks so nice, you dance with your hands up in the air and do the hand-jive or have a dance-off and laugh and have a great time. You slow dance with McDreamy, listen to great music, and live happily ever after. No so much. School dances are all right, not great. Yes, everyone looks straight out of a magazine and pictures are perfect. But, then there’s the drama, and the people PDA-ing everywhere and sneaking away to do heaven only knows what or get “high” or something else illegal. Seriously people, I know we’re in high school, but can’t it wait until at least AFTER?! Anyways, I seriously think our middle school dances were better than Homecoming this year. The music, sorry, was quite lame. The cafeteria—which is where I eat my (hopefully) clean, sanitary food—was perspiring from the vents. Yes, you heard right, I got DRIPPED on by something or someone at least twice! Drinks are served by parents and middle-schoolers in a small little area right nearby, and you couldn’t stand anywhere without being touched be someone or something. Half the dance, I think, I spent outside because it was just waaaaaaaaay too hot. Half, these problems—and I’m seriously thinking about starting a petition for this—would be solved if we did dances either one of three places: the gym, the little gym, or outside! It would make it so much more fun, and not so much questionable.
This may just be me, because two years ago I went to prom, at a country club-type place. It was clean, food was served, there were sooooo many less people in a bigger area, and it was cool. The music was great; there wasn’t any inappropriate PDA (some things were questionable, but not down-right dirty). You could sit down and have a lemonade or something, and the directions where awesome. And there was no mosh pit. Sorry if this sounds like ranting, it might’ve just seemed extra-lame to me because I was extremely tired that night, but it’s just how I feel! I’m thinking about getting on the dance committee (probably not, I’m a lot of talk) but I seriously think something needs to be done about these school dances! Until next time, over and out.

Barak Obama

With all this controversy on Barak Obama giving the speech to students last week I thought I'd put my two sense in as the perspective as a student. First of all, I am definitely pro-Obama. I like where he comes from and how he's beaten the odds against everything he's been up against. I think he's definitely a great role model for students all across America. When starting in the presidential election, he went up against all the critics saying that because of his race, and his family ancestry, that it would keep him from being elected as president. He proved them wrong. Like he said during his speech to the students of America, he said that he was home-schooled by his mother at 4:00 in the morning. He had chances, just like all of us, to slack off, and do nothing with his life; he could have been like the rest of the people in his family and not have gone to college. He did though. He worked his butt off, and did everything he could to get INTO college. He was the first in his family, and I find that very inspiring.
I have found myself, leaning towards the democratic side of politics, since I’ve been old enough to pay attention. I agree on all kinds of levels that change needs to happen. Exactly which way is the best, I’m not sure, but I know it needs too. And, President Obama is making something happen. For an obvious example, the troops in Iraq, he is finally evacuating. I know there is also a lot of controversy on this subject. Yes, I don’t think that Iraq is ready to defend themselves, but yes, they don’t need the thousands of troops that are there right now. Afghanistan is a whole other animal. Personally, I don’t know why we have troops there, but I don’t pay much attention to that in news. (I know, I know, shame on me, people my age should pay attention to the news, and watch it every day…yeah, yeah). But, again my personal feelings, half the stuff on the news is none of my business, and none of yours either. Especially when they start talking about Michael Jackson’s children’s custody and Jon and Kate Gosslin fighting it out over each other. We know things like this are going on, but it’s like opening your window or peeking over your fence to hear what your next-door neighbors are fighting about. It’s just not your business, and it’s for them to deal with on their own, and they don’t need our opinion on stuff.
Anyway back on topic now…On the day of the speech PARENTS took their kids out of school to MISS the speech. Why? WHY?! I think it was so stupid that a parent would not want their child to see the president and hear what he has to say, at least out of respect. When President George H. Bush gave a speech to the students of America, people went crazy, in a GOOD way. Now, President Obama is doing the same thing ENCOURAGING students to STAY in school, and you’re taking them out of school? I don’t know about you, but doesn’t this all seem a little weird and blow out of proportion? I am shaking my head right now trying to understand what goes through some people’s heads sometimes. (Okay I just sat here for two minutes trying to think what to say next).
Besides the fact that President Obama is a great public speaker, I think his speech was really good. It wasn’t one of those boring I’ll-just-use-a-bunch-of-big-words-ever-other-word that put us to sleep, or have us frantically looking through the dictionary looking up the words we don’t understand. It was a genuinely good speech, even for those of us who haven’t tackled those college course English classes. He showed he was a human too, vulnerable to taking the easy way out of things. He showed that despite what his parent’s had or hadn’t done, what his parent’s parents have or haven’t done, wasn’t going to define him. He beat the odds. He didn’t take the easy way out. He could’ve, but didn’t. He made mistakes, and look where he is right now, living in the White House and being a great president.

Over labor day weekend, I went to my grandparent's house and my cousins introduced me to these two lovely websites: peopleofwalmart.com and awkward familyphotos.com. These are chalk-ful of those people that make you wonder what the world has come to. These photos will have you saying one of a few things: "What the HECK where they thinking?", "Oh. My. God., or "......". Or you may just bust out laughing.

Here are some pictures off the websites that I thought I'd share with you for a small preview of the website. If you want to see more of these pictures just go to the websites, and it'll make your day a little brighter. Or a little more colorful. Or make you grateful that that's not you in the pictures. For kicks and giggles I'll also put up the quotes written by the creators.

People of Wal-Mart:


"If you were ever wondering what this site is about, then here is your answer. This is the Holy Grail"


"You know you don't have to dress as the logo to shop here, right?"


"Just a goat shopping at Walmart…….I don’t see what’s so funny."


"Even when mullets were in style this would have been considered a tad much."


"You know those people they find half eaten by their cats in an apartment 2 months after they die……."


Awkward Family Photos:


"And?"


"Just when you thought your sister would stay out of the frame"


"Who needs a pacifier when you’ve got toys like these?"


"Finally, something the whole family can agree on"


"We still can't believe he cheated on her"

Hope you got some good laughs. And if you liked this, I highly suggest you check them out!

For a homework assignment this weekend, I had to read a collection of essays (well four short ones) by Francis Bacon. In one of his titled "Narcissus; Or Self-Love", Bacon talked about how Narcissus lived by himself and one day saw his reflection and fell in love with himself. Narcissus then turned into a flower. Bacon went on to talk about how beautiful people tend to live a life of solitude and have only a few close friends. They stray away from the public eye so to avoid shame. Their few "close friends" are actually just admirers who talk them up and make them dumb. I think in reality, this is nothing close to what really happens. Why? For obvious reasons: people tend to gravitate toward gorgeous people. It's in their nature, and I don't deny doing it either. These beautiful people will get a bid ego and love the attention, but who's to blame them? I'm not saying there aren't good-looking people out there who aren't nice and don't have a big head, but the majority of them do. (Not to insult anyone out there!) But it's the truth! These people will soon gain an entourage. It's just what happens. Whether they want it to happen or not, it's just what happens in life.

A Day and Two Years To Remember

It started out just like any other day. Like how most life-changing days start out. No one knows something horrible is going to happen, except for those that are in on the secret. It’s something that will affect hundreds and thousands, and hundreds of thousands. People get up and get ready for work, kissing their children goodbye, and saying they’ll be home for dinner. But, they do not know that they will not be there that night, for reasons completely out of their hands. They will go to work with a smile on their face, and a coffee in their home. Completely unaware of what will happen to them today will forever affect the United States of America forever.

Of course I am talking about the horrible day of September 11, 2001. It was a day we will never forget. Some may wish they could forget it, and others wish it ‘d happened. As much it affected the people who lost loved ones, it affected people who didn’t know anyone who died. Or people who knew anyone who knew someone who lost a loved one. It affected every single one of us, even those of you in other countries. It showed us that the strong and mighty U.S.A. was just as venerable as other countries. It was just an average country on that day, a mourning country.

The World Trade Center, where, as from its name, all world trade was arranged. Ironically enough, someone from another world, a country, WE traded with crashed an airplane into our monument. How very life changing that day was. It makes my heart ache to think about the lives lost. The people affected, myself included.

I was in third grade when the planes went down. I was a little naïve thing. But how can anyone not be naïve at the age of eight? My teacher, one of the best I ever had, sat us down and told us what had happened. I knew, even at the age of eight, that this what not something that would that anyone would’ve thought possible. I cried a little, even then, thinking of little kids like myself, going home and finding out their mommy or daddy would never come home from work again. Out classroom was out in a little cabin about fifty feet away from the school building. I’d always liked that we were our own little room so close to the playground. We got to go outside to go to gym or lunch and it smelled so good in there. But now, I felt vulnerable. The cabin could be an easy target for an airplane to crash into us. One kid in my class, like he read my mind said, “What if there’s a bomb under the cabin?” As outrageous as that sounds, it didn’t sound that crazy to us in the little isolated room.

I didn’t loose any loved ones in the events that happened that day, but I did loose my dad, or so it felt like, for two years afterwards. My dad was in the Army Reserves and went to Kansas at the end of my fourth grade year. He was stationed at Ft. Riley to help train units that were going overseas to Iraq, and other countries. He would come back and visit about once a month, or every couple of months for two to four days. It was really hard on my family. It was just me, mom, and my little sister Christine (who was in Kindergarten at the time). I did a lot of maturing in those two years, but it took a long time for me to get there first. I was a hormonal nine and ten-year-old, who said and did many things that I regret. I said a lot mean things to my mom when we got in fights, and I distinctly remember slamming my bedroom door many times.

After the first year-and-a-half, my dad called to tell my mom that he signed up to go over to Iraq. I felt like my world got turned upside-down. Of course my mom was really upset, none of us wanted him to go over there. It was on the news everyday back then, how many people died each day, and we did not want him to be one of those numbers. He called everyday to talk to us and to assure us that he was okay. He was training Iraqi armies there, helping them defend their own country. When his six months were over he came back to the United States, but wasn’t allowed to come directly home right away. There were other things that he needed to do before he could come home. We didn’t know the exact day he’d be able to come home, but we were all so excited. Even our extended family couldn’t wait to see him. One day I walked through the front door of my house, and my mom and sister both come running. I asked them why they were so jumpy. They told me that they thought I was dad and that he was coming home today. He had called to say that he would be coming home! I was so excited and nervous. I mean I hadn’t seen him in six months! I’m glad he came home in one piece! So is everyone else. Even my fifth grade teacher, and my sixth grade Social Studies teacher.

I wish that someday soon all the military men and women are back home, because I don’t want any other families having to be torn apart from war. Or some families being frayed from deaths across seas. Or bruised families, with major, life-changing injuries. I have a good friend who had a brother go across seas. He hit a roadside bomb while in his Humvee. It broke both his legs. They were practically blown apart. I’m glad this didn’t happen to me, but it’s happening to families all across America, and from person experience, I think our soldiers should be back here, on home soil.

Life Changing Incidents in the Daycare

Some people love working with children. You know those old, cranky, mean people, who live by themselves and some outside only to get the paper, or work on their garden. Whenever you go past their house you’ll see the curtains pull apart a half an inch, and you know they’re watching you. Yes those lovely people. Well, I’m nothing like them, and I hope I never am.
I work at a gym that provides a place for parents to bring their kids in. They can stay there for two hours max, while they workout. This is where I’ve been working since the end of March. You basically be paid to work for three hours, while you color, feed babies and watch Toy Story (or an assortment of other good Disney past-times). It’s never really very exciting unless you get a bad family in, there all the kids never listen to you, or if there’s 50 kids and four people working…woo. The girls I work with are all really nice and funny. Most of them are young mothers, or college students (yay for being the only high school student!) Sometimes on the weekends when we close at 1:00, we’ll go to Carlos O Kelly’s right across the parking lot and get yummy food. I love it!
Usually there are three shifts, but this summer I worked a fourth shift because it was so busy. One day this summer, I was working and playing with this little boy James* who always wants me to tickle him when he’s there. I was tired of tickling him, so I told a couple other kids to tickle him, so I could take a break. I was watching them tickle him, and a girl decided to rescue him, by grabbing his arm and pulling on it. He said “Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, stop.” He didn’t seem hurt, so I looked away to check the room, to make sure nobody was misbehaving, and I looked back, and James was on the ground crying, and cradling his arm. This was the first sign that something was wrong and I went over to him and asked him what was wrong. He said his arm hurt and he wanted his Mommy. I got Jeanine*, the boss of the “daycare.” We both tried to get him to sit up and tell us what was wrong, but he would not move. He was balling so hard, that we could hardly understand what he was saying. Jeanine thought he might’ve broken something, so she hurried and got his mom. I sat there with him, and tried to get him to calm down. It was so scary for me! He was getting really warm, like he got a severe fever, so I blew cool air on him and petted his hair. (It was the most I could think of doing). James begged me to not let “them” take him to the hospital, and all I could promise was that we’d get his mom and make the pain go away. He was staring to get some attention, and kids were stopping to see what had happened to him. Angela* and Betty* were working with Janine and I, and were trying to get the kids away from James, because he needed his room. But, he was unfortunately in the middle of the room, so it was hard to get them to get out of his way. Jeanine came back with James’ mom and another kid’s mom (who was a doctor). James’ mom was amazing; she calmed him down so we could hear what was wrong. The other mom asked me if we had anything to put his arm on so they could transport him without hurting it more. I grabbed a couple wooden blocks that where in a bin and Janine went and got an ice pack because his arm was starting to swell a little. Betty got a towel and Angela tried to get the kids to play. We propped James up onto Jeanine so we could get a better angle at James’ arm. I sat there and held down his legs because he was kicking them so hard I didn’t want him to cause more harm to himself. Angela even had to help me because I couldn’t control those strong little legs! I was so worried that I had let something bad happen to poor James!
After about five minutes, we got James’ arm propped up and Sam* came in from the front desk and picked him up. One of the other mom’s went and got her car to pull it around so she could drive them to the hospital. Once they left (Jeanine went with them) I tried to get all the other kids to play. I was so scared that my legs were literally shaking. One of Jeanine’s daughter’s was crying because she wanted her. So, I took Rachel* out to the front door so we could watch everyone put James in the car. I was so worried about James and his mom. I wanted him to be okay! Jeanine came back and took Rachel. She said that James’ mom would call her later and tell her about what happened.
The next day I worked with Jeanine and she told me that James’ elbow got dislocated! I felt so relieved. Jeanine also told me that his mom said he was acting his normal self later the previous day. I was so happy that he was okay. Two days after the incident, he was even back in the “daycare” acting totally normal. I had been thinking about doing physical therapy when I go to college, and I was thinking specializing in child physical therapy. After that, I am positive I will!

*Names have been changed for the privacy of the gym.

Well, here we go! I'm still trying to brainstrom ideas for what I should write. Here's a few ideas I have:

1. Music. How it's changed over time. First we were jamming out to classical music with Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky...now were listening to this so called "rap" which sounds like, I-wish-I-could-sing-about-how-pretty-you-are-but-I'll-just-stick-in-a-cuss-word-every-five-words. Also, there will be good music that I like, or have discovered, or have been enlightened upon from other people!

2. Politics: Mostly the Economy. For example, what's going on in Washington D.C. and how it's affecting people at home.

3. ? I'm thinking mabye just random everyday experinces, you know, the life-changing ones. I've had quite a few in the past couple years.