Bing Crosby

Bing.
Bing Crosby.
He's the Michael to my Buble.
He's the Christmas to my season.
Bing Crosby was a wonderful human being.
His voice like butter, his laid back attitude and ability to make himself appear like the guy next door.
Bing, this blog post is my tribute to you this Christmas season.
I love you and your indescribable music.
If you care to hear the best of Bing's Christmas tunes then allow me to assist you!
--> Jingle Bells (classic!)
--> Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth - Duet with David Bowie
--> White Christmas (an obvious choice)
--> Christmas is a Comin' (my absolute FAVOURITE Bing song!!!)

Merry Christmas friends, enjoy! :)

Freedom

Freedom comes in many ways.
Freedom is the sound of silence when you're the only one left in the house.
Freedom is the feeling of the cool breeze on your face when you're riding your bicycle.
Freedom is...
Well enough of this poetic stuff, let's face it. Freedom is the school bell ringing for Christmas break.
That bell symbolizes the freedom to do what we want and not have to worry about homework or extra-curriculars. That bell is the sounds of freedom ringing throughout the school yelling "Be free! Be free! I release you from your student bonds!"!
It really is a beautiful sound.
It reminds me of all the christmas cards I'm going to make, all the carols I will sing, and all the time I will have to watch Christmas movies, drink tea, eat cookies and read.
Oh to read! To spend an entire day just reading, soaking up the words one page at a time. To fill your mind with knowledge or lose yourself in another world.
With Christmas comes Christmas break which is pure and wonderful freedom.
Thanks Christmas break, thanks Freedom, I need this.

Dreams, Life and Money

You know that house?
The house that you've always dreamed of having.
Of looking upon after a hard day's work.
The house that you own, that you can proudly say is yours.
This house is your dream house, it's THE house.
I've always loved architecture and interior design so to pick just one perfect alcove placement, or one perfect porch stain would be nearly an impossible task.
The wrap around porch complete with a swing, or the vaulted ceilings and the hardwood floors, how can one choose?!
I love Pride and Prejudice mansions with an old and historic feel to them, I love pale yellow cottages with white picket fences, I love modern lofts with bold colours and to blend my eclectic taste would be both an exciting challenge and a nightmare.
But perhaps the dream home isn't so hard to reach for you, perhaps you know exactly what you want and how you want it done. Perhaps you've chosen a log cabin, or a beach house, maybe even a yurt but there is always one thing that seems to stop every dreamer dead in its tracks.
Money.
That dumb, ridiculous currency used to make the world go 'round.
And that's why it's called a "dream" house, because it will only happen in our dreams.
But what if I want it to be real. What if I don't want life to be full of dreams, I want it to be full of dream-like realities.
I'm sick of what if's and saving money and never getting the thing you really want because it's not in your budget. Why not get the sea-foam toaster? Or the better razors for goodness sake!? If that's what is important to you and what will give you just that much more joy then live a little and do it!

Busier than a Bee

Why is the time right before Christmas so gosh darn busy?
Schoolwork increases and it seems like everything I have to do triples!
I love Christmas, the spirit of it, the festiveness.
But it seems that until school is out for the holidays, they just push you harder and harder until there's nothing left of you by Christmas!
I guess I'm just going to have to deal with it.
Christmas holidays could not come sooner.

Pride and Prejudice Dramatic Monologue

We have recently finished our poetry unit in English and we had to write a dramatic momlogue. I wrote an incredibly long one that covers most of the plot in Pride and Prejudice (I know, shocking!). I just thought I'd share that with you so enjoy!

The love between us

It ran deeper than we knew

How could we fuss?

We both felt like new

It began at a ball

A small little gathering

Her mother did call

And oh how she loved blathering

Elizabeth Bennett was her name

A Bennett through and through

She did not care about my fame

Of those people there were few

Her sister Jane fell in love with my best friend

I regret what I did, it was wrong on my part

Thinking that would be the end

I ripped them apart

Then I could take it no longer

I had to tell Elizabeth that

My love was growing stronger

It was then I attempted to “chat”

This ended quite abruptly

When after pouring out my heart

She had pointed out directly

That I was the last man she could of ever been a part

So I made up my mind

To make up for what I did

I had to show her I could be kind

That I wasn't so stupid

Tossing away my family's expectations

Not caring what Lady Catherine would say

Her lack of wealth had no foundation

On the love I had been fighting till that very day

From there I did as I had said I would before

I apologized to my dear friend

And told him to pursue Jane Bennett once more

Bingley accepted my apology and set off to make amends

After many “surprising” meetings

A stronger feeling grew

I welcomed it with greetings

How I hoped she felt it too

What happened next was unexpected

For Lydia Bennett had run away

With Mr. Wickham undetected

Elizabeth was crushed and everyone felt betrayed

I then saw to it that Lydia and Wickham were married

For what a scandal they would be

Their family name would be buried

How then could I marry thee?

Bingley purposed to Jane not long after

They were happy as the Meadowlarks

I loved the sound of their laughter

But how it made me ache, I felt alone and in the dark

Then I made up my mind once more

To express for the last time my love and desire

For her to hear my hearty roar

My love for her was like a wild fire

As I walked toward her my pulse was racing

This was my last chance

I knew what I was facing

Why hadn't I worn other pants?

My beloved approached me as if nothing was wrong

Her eyes so big and clear

My whole body longed

For I was so nervous and so full of fear

It was then I expressed my deepest desire

Exposing my soul for only her to see

It is she whom I admire!

And then I got on one knee

To my utter surprise

Ms. Bennet accepted

We then watched the sunrise

I most certainly did not feel rejected

A double wedding was held

With Jane, Bingley, Lizzie and I

It was a huge celebration and I felt compelled

To cry

Though I could never cry in public

My emotions you will not see

I would not be the subject

Of cruel inhumanity

Now that we've tied the knot

My Lizzie is always there

She is no robot

And that is why she is my air

Today we are just peachy

Walking about the countryside

Lizzie loves to walk and teach me

In our love we do abide

Forever and ever

Our love will stand the test of time

To be apart never

Together and sublime

How strange...

Have you ever experienced something, and no one else really understands unless they experienced it too. 

Like if you go on a trip and then come back and instead of everything being changed, like you, it's the same as you left it.

Recently I went on a trip to Ottawa with Forum for Young Canadians, a program where grades 10-12 students from across the country gather to Ottawa to learn about our government and politics in general.

It was the most amazing thing I've ever experienced in my entire life. 

But when I came home, I felt different and to my utter surprise no one else did.

I wish everyone could experience Forum, so that they'd know how amazing it is and so that they could talk about it with me because they're genuinely interested. 

Unfortunately reality doesn't work like that. Until it does I'll just have to keep in contact with my new buds and avoid conversations about Forum around people who haven't been. 

It's a little disheartening but that's life and it's worth it for what I experienced. A week full of memories to last a lifetime.

Christmas

I can't deny my excitement for Christmas any longer. This desire in my longs to break free from the bonds of fall. It wants to reach out and touch everyone with its extreme giddiness and joy in the purest form.
Christmas is about 46 full days away.
That's not a lot of time people!
Start your shopping before it's too late!
I can recall one Christmas EVE in which a small group of us were running around the dollar store trying to hide our gifts from each other. We really try to think ahead. Some people say we are procrastiators but we all know the truth, we're just plain lazy.
Now with Christmas coming, you know what this means right?
It means hot chocolate with marshmallows, decorations, smiling faces, happy dispositions, snow <3, baking, carols, christmas movies, and christmas music.
What an exciting time! The Christmas season comes but once a year and do you think I'm going to waste even a second of that? No siree!
Most people say that the earliest you can begin to prep for Christmas is Nov. 12th, after Remembrance Day. But yesterday I may or may not have possibly worn a tacky christmas sweater.... :)
It was lovely, and cozy and put me in the best mood ever.
Christmas has this incredible disease like quality to it. Like a virus that comes at the same time every year, except that I actually like this virus.
So people, start your Christmas season engines and start preparing for the best Christmas yet!
I'll begin my Christmas music on Saturday. I encourage you to do the same. (or earlier!)
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good morning.

Jack Johnson

It's been a while but I'm here and I'm writing! 

I've had one of the busiest weeks of my life. With homework mostly but then more deadlines come up and then you're in over your head! I'm sure everyone can relate.

I felt like life was running way ahead of me and I couldn't keep up. I was yelling "Wait up Life! Hang on! I'm coming! Slow down!". 

I wish I could make life slow down. Make it stop for one moment in time. To give me enough of a break that I can actually get something done, or at least reflect on something for goodness sake!

But what I wanted to write about was not about my ridiculously busy life or being in control of time, I want to write about one thing. He warms my heart and soothes my soul. He is Jack Johnson.

I love Jack Johnson.

If you don't like him, I don't understand you. His music is like listening to your very soul being renewed. His voice is relaxing and his songs are mellow. I could listen to him all the time. And believe I try. 

Unfortunately my father is not too fond of him.

Sure he likes him but the one album I have of Jack Johnson, I play over and over. Needless to say he a little sick of it.

Oh Jack Johnson, how I love you so. With you mad guitar skills and ability to touch your audience in an incredibly deep way. Your songs are all I want to listen to at the moment, and that's what all I do.

Thank you Jack Johnson. For your beautiful music and sheer talent.

Now you all better go listen to some Jack Johnson! The album I have is called On and On and it's great but I recommend listening to some of his other songs too. 

Boycott Dr. Pepper

Dr. Pepper recently came out with a new ad campaign. 
If you've seen it then you know what I'm talking about.
If you haven't, well watch this.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTs-BmLOGWQ


In my personal opinion, it's disgusting, offensive, degrading and ridiculous that stuff like this still exists in this day and age! 
But, you know that's just me.
I wrote on the facebook page and reported them and then I emailed the Dr. Pepper website. I probably could have been more kind but I wanted to make my sentiments known and...well I think I got the point across.


Dearest Dr. Pepper,
You are no longer dear to me.
Not since that repulsive Dr. Pepper 10 commercial.
I am a woman, a lady, a girl and I am extremely offended. Lots of people say, "Who cares? It's funny!" but I disagree most ardently.
What you're saying is that Diet pop is a girls drink, that men need to manly, and that all women love rom/coms and what the heck is a "lady drink"?! You might as well be saying "Men are awesome and far superior to women". If you wanted attention then fine, sure, you got it, happy? Now stop! This is awful. I thought society was passed this. I used to love Dr. Pepper and while I still do, I will never drink it again. After this, could you really expect me to? Thanks for stereotyping me and putting me in a box.
With No Love from an Infuriated Ex-Fan


Thoughts? Comments? Questions?

One Big Giant Mystery

Is life a highway?
Is it a roller coaster?
Is it like a box of chocolates?
Life if curious thing. No one has all the answers and so life becomes a mystery.
A mystery that has ups and downs like a roller coaster.
A mystery that has curves and road blocks, like a highway.
A mystery where you never know what you're going to get, like a box of chocolates.
I was in Comparative Civilizations yesterday and my teacher was telling us about the ancient Egyptians. The building of the pyramids was so spot on that there were only theories of how they used their primitive tools to make them so symmetrical. I brought up my own theory explaining how sea people from the Nile river came up on land to help them out of the goodness of their hearts. My teacher looked at me and said, "Wait let me get this clear, you think mermaids helped the Egyptians build the pyramids?". I promptly responded yes and a rather logical theory was born.
I realize sea people wouldn't be your first choice but there are so many puzzling things in the world that I think we, the human race, need to loosen up a bit and have a little fun.
Why not make a theory up? Why can't aliens exist?
I think aliens do exist, I just think God created them.
Anyway, if you learn anything from this it's this:
"Don't take life too seriously, no one gets out alive anyway."

We Day

We Day is a powerful day.
It's impacting and motivational.
We Day is a day where 18 000 students and teachers get together under the same roof, only to blow the top off so everyone can hear.
These 18 000 individuals are spoken to by speakers like Mia Farrow, Spencer West and of course the founders of Free the Children, Craig and Marc Keilburger.
Free the Children is an organization that began with an eleven year old boy named Craig Keilburger.
He was moved by an article about a boy in child labour and brought it to school.
He stood up in front of his class, nervous and shaking, then he asked them who wanted to do something about it.
Eleven people raised their hands and Free the Children was born.
Today they have started over 650 schools and are providing over 1 million people with clean water, food, education, health care and income assistance.
If you'd like to read more about Free the Children you can go to the website below :)

http://www.freethechildren.com/

Because of this organization many, many people have been given the help they need and it's because of that little boy that they did that.
So Free the Children started We Day to empower youth to change the world, to make a change, and to make a positive difference.
I'm part of my school's social justice club and each year we participate in We Day. It's an incredible, rather life changing event. To be inspired along with 18 000 other youth like you is so powerful.
Thanks Craig, for allowing us to make a difference and to get a chance to have our voices heard.

If you want to know more about We Day go to this website below.

http://www.weday.com/

Coming Soon...

I realize it's been a while but stay tuned for a post regarding We Day! You can research it while you wait :)

Le Futur

What do you want to be when you grow up?

It's the number one question to ask kids of all ages. It's got to be, people have been asking me for years and years. 

Well, I'm all grown up now. Not completely of course, you never really stop growing. But here I am. 

What do I want to be...now? 

I have a few secret dreams. Well just two but I think they're quite special.

#1. I dream that one day I could be an activist for all things. Fighting for human rights, against the tar sands, or to raise money for cancer research. Those are just some examples but being part of an organization that would allow me to make a rather significant difference in rather large number of people would possibly be the most incredible thing to ever happen to me.

#2. I dream that one day I could announce all things via radio. How awesome would it be to be a radio announcer?! I've always wanted to make little jokes with my co-host and interview crazy people, maybe even the news. I don't want to be on TV though, just the radio. I could be the next Rick Cluff or Steven Quinn (for those of you who don't know, they are from CBC radio).

Those are my secret dreams that aren't really secret at all. 

I could make it happen, I could aspire to be one of those. Or maybe I could be an activist and then go on the radio to announce different fundraisers , etc.. 

I'll just have to make sure whatever decision I make is the right one, and then follow that dream whole heartedly. 

Oh that sounds easy enough....

The Power of One

Wow.
Wow.
Wow.
Today in English class we finished watching the film, The Power of One.
Oh my gosh was this ever an incredible movie.
It was beautiful, just amazing. The way it was filmed, the African singing, the inspiring message. It was just magnificent.
It's is about an English boy who lived in South Africa at the time of a apartheid. The Dutch and the English had fought for South Africa and eventually the Dutch won so the English were looked upon, well rather negatively. It goes on to tell of this boy's life, his struggles as an English boy in boarding school, his forbidden love for a Dutch girl and love for the natives of South Africa.
If you haven't seen it, I 302.8% recommend it!
Now on to the real story.
So there I was, sitting in the middle of English class. With my best friend beside me.
We were just chilling. Just watching the movie.
Of course, it was pretty violent and graphic so I was turning away at times when I thought my gag reflex just might have gotten a little too much exercise but I was enjoying it. There was the little romance and the rebellious teaching of reading and writing to the black people, it was very good.
Then it hit me.
All of a sudden, something happened to a certain character (who I will not reveal just in case you watch it) and I was done.
Tears in my eyes, wait!
Tears streaming down my cheeks!
My throat tightened, and I wanted to burst.
But remember, I'm in the middle of English.
I turn fiercely backward to give my teacher a look. She knows I hate that stuff.
She knew.
And yet she didn't prepare me.
I said to her "ARE YOU SERIOUS?!".
Then I turned around and continued to cry.
I wanted to let it all out, to just release.
But I couldn't.
And I didn't.
My best friend beside, thankfully, was doing the same as me.
Needless to say we had a pretty emotionally draining day.
I was emotionally exhausted and wanted to just curl up in my bed with some tea.
I couldn't do any work after that. I was too unfocused, too worn.
The worst part about this is that the English class who had it in the afternoon didn't cry, but laughed.
After I had fell apart. I broke.
They had laughed.
I came in to their class during my work block, expectiing to see their faces stained with tears.
What I found was much worse.
Their smiling faces, their cheery tones.
They weren't shattered, they weren't sad.
They told me they had started to laugh and began talking quite loudly at the part where I had practically died.
Our class was silent, sniffling, and whispering angry and frustrated comments.
What a feeling.
So when you watch The Power of One, I hope you cry. I hope you die a little bit inside.

Or at least show some sad'ish' emotion!

82 Days till...

I know it's not even Halloween yet but I'm pretty stoked for Christmas.

Only 82 days!

Today in textiles me and some friends were discussing Halloween and Christmas.

I hate Halloween and they love it. We both agreed Christmas is just lovely but Halloween seemed to be a "controversial" holiday. 

The reasons I hate Halloween are as follows:

1. It's scary and spooky.

2. It's dark. (not like, light and dark but more...almost emotionally dark)

3. There are bloody and grotesque costumes.

4. It's creepy.

5. I don't get warm fuzzies when I think of it. (unlike Christmas)

6. The only "tradition" involved is carving pumpkins and even that's dying.

So overall, you could say that I don't particularly enjoy Halloween. Although that would be an understatement. 

Perhaps it's the mood I'm in but I can't seem to say anything positive today. Ok, how about this.

There are fun things about Halloween though. The candy and the dressing up, handing out candy is my favourite! So I'm not a total cynic.

But moving on to Christmas! Hooray!

I love Christmas.

Christmas is a time of giving, getting, warm hearts, happy hearts, christmas movies, cozy fires, carols, snow, traditions, decorating and so much more! And those are only some of the things that Christmas is. I can't help but want to burst into dance and song at the thought of Christmas!

So while I dread the "long awaited" Halloween I can be thinking about how Christmas will be just around the corner. 

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas."

Lists

Lists are how I function properly in my life. They are how I manage my life and busy schedules. They are how I get to sleep.
Seriously.
When I can't fall asleep because I have too much on my mind, I just make a list of all the things I have to do the next day and then go to sleep.
It's theraputic.
I also have the most horrible memory in the world so instead of having things jumbled inside my head, I like writing them down. Lists are tangible and personal. I like that I can touch my thoughts and see my life all laid out.
I bought this book called To-Do Lists. And before I read it I thought I was a little bit crazy because I made lists like there was no tomorrow, at least once a day. But then I discovered, after I read the book, that there is a whole world of list makers! It's incredible! I thought I was alone and boy oh boy, I was wrong.
Lists are significantly important in my life and I would probably freak out 24/7 if I couldn't write my thoughts down or what I had to do.
If you are not an avid list maker like myself, I recommend trying it out. It's not for everybody but what do you have to lose?
Here, I'll help.
This can be the beginning of your list.

To Do List
--> read Caris' blog
--> comment on the posts
--> sing a song
--> do a jig

I hope this helps :)

Buttons

I have many buttons. Buttons that can be easily found and pushed constantly, if you so desire.

Buttons are what make me tick. If you have a button, it's what makes you tick.

A few of my buttons include dissing Glee, feet, seeing women as the lesser gender, promoting wrestling and many more. These are my buttons. These are what I feel strongly about enough to defend in any circumstances. Well, kind of. Feet aren't something I defend. I just hate feet. I hate them. With all of my heart. Ick. But moving on, when you're friends find your buttons (and it wasn't very difficult for them to find mine) they will spare you no grief in the pushing of the buttons. I don't know why but I always feel that I have to fight for what I love even though it doesn't really matter. I'm not protesting for human rights, I'm defending my favourite TV show! I guess it sounds trivial next to something like human rights but I can't allow people to make fun of something many hard working and talented people put a lot of talent and hard work into! Their lives are invested in that and I feel that they don't need people hating on them. 

Wrestling is different. Wrestling is still something someone invests their life into but it's completely different because it's not contributing to society in a positive way. Glee is extremely encouraging, it's funny, it's changed lives (and if you don't believe me watch Glee 3D the movie, it will explain). I will not discuss further the topic of wrestling because it makes me ill just thinking about it.

In summation, buttons are not necessarily a bad thing. Buttons can be good, they can help you come out of your shell and stand up for what you believe in. Sometimes though, letting things go is important. Not every button needs defending. But stay strong my fellow buttons, we won't let those button pressers get the best of us!

Prom

Prom.
What comes to mind when you read/hear that?
When I think of prom I instantly imagine this adorable little tacky high school gym. I picture balloons and sparkles, dancing and punch.
So in my dream world, I would like nothing better than to have my prom be this cute cheesy school gym prom that you see in the movies.
But alas, most people don't think this way. Especially my fellow graduates. It seems to be, times have changed. I realize that tacky may not be someone's first choice but it would be so incredibly precious!
This lovely image will never leave my mind!
I can just see people dancing in the middle on the dance floor, surrounded by tables of food and refreshments. There might be a fountain in the middle, or twinkling lights on the roof. There might be a theme or a colour scheme and perhaps a place to have photographs taken with your friends.
I mean, picture movies like "Footloose" and "Prom". It could be so amazing!
The only problem with this FANTASTIC idea is that no one in my grad class is willing to put in the effort to make something like that happen. No one wants tacky, even if it does look beautiful.
But I would put the effort in.
I could make it happen.
It could be amazing.
And we could all love it.
If only I had the opportunity to make our gym what it could be.
Perhaps I'll look into that.
Or perhaps I should just try to keep the peace between everyone and stick to the other ideas.
Nah!

"So you had a bad day.."

I had a bad day. I'm taking one down. I sing a sad song just to turn it around.
You know those days where you couldn't do one thing right if you tried?
I had one of those days yesterday. School was awesome, it was raining, I got a grad partner and well it was just a loving life in 2011 kind of day. Then came work.
I got to the kitchen and life was good, all was well. My first assignment, chive cutting. That's where my problems began.
I honestly tried my very hardest to make them as small as possible but I was shown how to do it THREE times because I wasn't doing too hot. I positioned my fingers wrong, i didn't use the whole knife, they chives were too big. Ugh. Anyway, on to the others.
As I moved on to do different jobs I dropped at least 10 things that shift, at least. It's like I had butter on my hands or something. Maybe I repel dishes? But then in dish pit I really screwed up. I didn't put some things where they were supposed too, I mixed up some pots and had to reorganize them and keep in mind I'm dropping everything in sight. Then I get my footprints on the freshly mopped floor. Yeah. So good right? My hair wasn't even how it was supposed to be! I put it in a side pony but I had to have it in a bun. Boy oh boy was I having the time of my life.
To top this whole evening off you have to envision a steaming hot kitchen to work in, with people running about and pressure to get the meal done ASAP and me, messing up everything I do, causing total embarrassment in front of the staff.
As you can imagine, it wasn't an ideal ending to my day. But lo and behold today is a new day. A beautiful new day.

Mom, Mum, Mummy, Majah

It's raining again. *sigh* This is the life. This is the day I've been waiting for. The day when I can be cozy and warm inside and get nice and cold and wet outside. But I'm not posting about my incredible obsession and adoration for the rain, no today I am going to post about my mom.
My mom is quite the woman. She works, cleans, and still has a smile on her face. Just yesterday I had accidentally kept her car keys from when I was driving the day before and she had to come to school twice only to have me find them in my purse. I felt awful but mom kept her cool and was EXTREMELY patient with me. I probably would have exploded at my child. Well, maybe not exploded, but definitely have a minuscule burst.
Anyway, my mom does a lot for me. When I'm busy doing something and she asks me to do something else and I say that I just want to finish, when I get to doing the task she asked me to do she has already done it! Wow, that made very little sense but if you read it twice you might get it.
But she's just amazing like that. She does things and doesn't ask me to feel bad or expect me to apologize for not doing it. She does it because I'm her daughter and she loves me. When I ask what I can do she tells me to be her daughter. It's pretty precious not going to lie.
My mom listens to me, she appreciates and loves me. When I come from school I tell her my whole day, class by class and she just listens. I don't know how she does it!

In conclusion, I would just like to say I love you majah.

Opinions

Opinions are a funny thing. You can have an opinion on everything from fluffy bunnies to war.
But opinions themselves are not as funny as the people with the opinions.
What I want to know is why one person's opinion can ruin the relationship they have with the other person? It seems positively silly to me.
For example, politics. In a lot of families, politics is the unspoken topic of discussion. It's the taboo word and as soon as someone starts a discussion about how they think Arctic Sovereignty is important, the other(s) backs away and says "I don't like to get into that stuff.". I mean, politics isn't for everyone, I get that, but how the country you live in is run is based completely on politics. So maybe brushing up a bit on the current leaders of the parties isn't such a bad idea. Perhaps discussing just one political issue wouldn't hurt.
The reason quite a large number of families don't speak of something like politics is because of their genreation. It's how it was when they were growing up and why change tradition or, dare I say, change something.
More than politics though is the little issues. The bone I'm trying to pick at here is why friends have to feel "offended" and have their feelings hurt when one person has an opinion that's different than theirs on a small matter. For example, the weather. If I said that it was sunny outside and I hated it (which is 303% true) and my friend said that she liked the sun (with attitude) and was then mad at me because I had a different opinion than she. That's silly. Does it really matter if you don't think the same way, that you have different ideas of how things should work? p.s. It doesn't! At all!
It shouldn't matter if your friend likes sushi and you don't, or if you want a Christmas eve wedding and they want a June wedding. In the grand scheme of life and friendship, what does that have to do with your personal relationship with the person?
Now, having said that, I do understand that some opinions do matter in relationships. Religion is a big one.

But now that I've stated my opinion, you're welcome to state yours. It's okay of you disagree ;)

Stay tuned...

Have a little patience, further posts are to come!

Back in Business

This weather, that is currently in my small town, is beyond my comprehension.
I love it so much I can hardly stand it.
When I look at the clouds hovering over the mountains and consuming the sky, I get...warm fuzzies.
Special weather fuzzies.
Seriously, when I look outside I feel so incredibly content with the world. Like nothing could shatter such a magnificent feeling. Of course this is false, but I try to be positive.
As I ran some errands around town I rolled down the window just so I could feel the cold wind brushing my arms and face. The other day I didn't wear a sweater on my way to school when it was "misting" because the feeling of the precipitation tickling my arms is too wonderful to pass up. I don't live more than 2 minutes away but that's not the point. The point is, how does weather do this?
Weather is a talented thing and really should be given an award, multiple awards in fact! Everything from Hurricanes to Sand Storms in no time at all! It's just insanity. And the ability to make others feel different emotions. For example, when I see clouds and rain I am happy (elated really) but when others see the that they are sad. Generally that's how people respond.
I don't understand people's love for the sun, it's so annoying. And hot. Ick. But I can talk (type) no further on the subject!
Let's proceed with this post. In summation, the weather is finally back to our town's normal grey skies and wet...everything. So now that the weather is back, so am I! I have officially switched from summer mode to back to school mode. Caris is back in business.

Public Speaking

Apparently more people would rather die than get up in front of a crowd and speak.
Public speaking is the number one fear, even death didn't make number one.
This statistic makes sense to me though. Public speaking is awful. It's torture. It's everything you don't want life to be and then some. My stomach churns, my face goes red, I can hear my voice shaking, I am shaking, my palms are sweating but are cold as ice. I hate public speaking.
Going red is a very, very common occurrence for me and I hate it. That's one of my number one fears when I get up there. Will I go red? The answer is undoubtedly yes every time. I blush easier than a naked woman in a grocery store.
But, there is one thing I have discovered that has changed this issue in my life, forever.
Why are we so afraid?
Why does it matter so much?
Seriously, who gives a hoot?
Really all your doing is talking in front of people. It's not a big deal.
This was my revelation.
I am challenging myself with this public speaking issue and am making myself do it. I read poetry in front of my peers in a classroom, and today I am doing a little speech in front of them again but for grad executive purposes.
I didn't even get red when I read the poetry! I mean, what was I worrying about? Who cares? We only have one life (unless you believe in reincarnation) so why would I let a little thing like public speaking take over?
Fear will not rule my life. I will keep challenging myself until I can get up in front of my my grad class and talk to them without feeling any anxiety whatsoever. This won't beat me. In this case, it is a competition.
And I will win.

From Bad to Worse

One of my very best friends in the whole wide world left for England today.

ENGLAND!

Isn't that outrageous? In a good way of course. 

Anyway, today has been a rather sad day to say the least. And after "My Girl" last night, let's just say I've been kind of...emotional. 

I am so excited for her and want her to soak up every single second of it but I miss her already and knowing she's all the way across the big blue wet thing doesn't help. Mostly, I want her to be safe. I know that having fun is important too but I rather her be safe. It's a big deal to go somewhere foreign alone you know! A fairly large one. Maybe everything just seems like a big deal because I'm so emotional? Aw man, emotions are the pits (as my grandma would say). Tomorrow will be different. I won't be affected in any emotional way whatsoever to anything that's said! Of course, there are exceptions to every rule... :)

What am I saying? I said that yesterday and look how that went! Ok, come on. Be optimistic. Tomorrow WILL be a better day. I WILL NOT be emotionally insane. I WILL have the best day ever and I WILL sing a little tune to help.

Folks, I think this is a turning point. Tomorrow will be the best day ever, apparently. So join me! It'll be a little test for yourself. And you know how everyone LOVES tests. 

Fishies

Not going to lie, I just ADORE the little fish on my blog. Currently beside this post.
Honestly, I can't help but talk to them like they're my pets. "Come here little ones!" "Go play now!" It's constant. They are my world. Ok, I lied there. Just for a moment or two though. Just a baby lie. A baby.
Seven beautiful fishies... <3 I might have also...maybe...perhaps...named them. I feel like I do that to everything. Like it's a disease of sort that I have. I have to name inanimate objects or else I'll die. Moving on...
Fish #1 is Noah (a fairly attractive name)
Fish #2 is LaffTaff (who doesn't want a virtual fish named LaffTaff?!)
Fish #3 is Philip (after Prince Philip from Sleeping Beauty, of course)
Fish #3 is Fitzwilliam
Fish #4 is Darcy
Fish #5 is Gwyneth (Paltrow!)
Fish #6 is Flart (for Phoebe ;)
Red Fish #7 Seamus (pronounced Shame-us, after the adorably wonderful and irish male from Harry Potter)
I thought these names were pretty solid. I mean, how often do you get to name seven virtual fish? Not often enough! I think every individual in the world needs seven virtual fishies. Who needs food? Water? Seriously, what a bunch of wimps. I think you can last without those for a little while! Those little children in Africa, yeah, just give them seven little fish. Virtual fish. On an ipad or some other awesome technological device and then send them on their merry way.
If the world were a puzzle, I think I just solved it.
Virtual fishies are the answer.
Seven virtual fishies.
All you need is fish.






p.s. If you are unaware of how sarcastic the last part of this post was I apologize and ask you to please read it again knowing full well I am only kidding. Thank you.

Demo Derby

Ok, so maybe reading a gigantic post about a book you've never read and probably won't ever read was a waste of your time. Or maybe you didn't even read it. Either way, I apologize. It did feel good to talk about it though. When you find something wonderful and exciting, don't you want to share it with people?
Moving on, today is the Demolition Derby. No big deal.
For those of you who are completely unaware of what this event is, allow me to shed some light on the subject. The Demolition Derby is an afternoon event where practically our entire town gets together and watches beaten up cars beat each other some more. Yep. It's very hick. Very small town. But I thoroughly enjoy it and I guess the rest of the town does too since they show up every year. Sometimes cars catch on fire and every one is just stoked out of their little minds and other times they just get stuck in the mud and can't get out. Today it will be quite warm and probably dusty so it's going to be hard to see the vehicles.
This year there's this "Grad" car. I'm rooting for that one obviously. Our grad class signed our names all over it and the dad of one girl in our grad class will be driving it. I'm pumped.
So today will be a memory of 9/11 and a redneck car bashing fiasco. Woot! Woot!

Wither

This morning I'm feeling a book discussion. Well I guess it's not really a discussion when I'm the only one in it. But your comments could make it one!

Anyway, I found this book called "Wither". Basically, it was incredible. I am the slowest reader known to mankind and I finished in three days. Last night I stayed up till 12:30 to finish it. I was just so close! And then I tell myself, one more chapter and then I'll stop. P.S. I don't stop.
The novel was set in a time after the 21st century, but instead of being futuristic it was...different. I don't even have words for it. So in this day and age, in "Wither", they found a cure for cancer and have then created this generation of sorts called the 2nd generation, who are practically immortal. They are free from disease, allergies, etc. although they can still get hurt. They aren't indestructible. The one problem with these 2nd generation people is that there is this "virus" they call it, that kills girls when they are twenty and guys when they are twenty-five. Many scientists are still looking for an antidote but lots gave up hope a long time ago.
The first generations would be people like you and me, and once they're gone there will be no more. They aren't really allowed to breed new children of a first generation, but most don't want to anyway because they have defects.
Also in this time period, a nuclear war, World War III occurred and destroyed the entire earth except for North America. Now the rest of the world is burnt and barren, countries like India and China, Australia and Russia are no more. The culture and the language is all in books, it's history. And as if the world couldn't get any worse, there's these people called Gatherers who kidnap girls from all over and force them to marry a Housemaster. It's polygamy though and he has multiple wives. It's all so bizarre to read but so incredibly interesting! There are many other things throughout the book that just shock me and keep me reeled in constantly. When it's not holograms of sea creatures in the pool, it's scientifically modified flowers that bloom brighter than regular ones.
In summation of this fantastical tale, I will tell you that "Wither" is about one girl who is kidnapped and brought to marry a man named Linden. There is a love story in there and some....different sort of friendships too. I definitely recommend it. Pick it up from your local library :) Wow, that sounds like something they'd say on Arthur. Not that there is anything wrong with Arthur. I love the guy.

My question for you (for possible discussion) is, how do you think world war III would work if it did happen? What countries would be involved and what would they be fighting for?

Stop and Take the Time to Smell the Roses

One day as I was walking home from work, in a lovely mood despite the sunshine, a middle aged couple stops just ahead of me. I wondered what the heck they were doing. They were walking towards me and then turned into the bush. I thought it was rather odd but I kept walking on my merry way. Finally, when I passed them I see that they had been smelling the flowers of someone's well kept garden. The man then said to me, "You've got to take the time to smell the roses!". I laughed in agreement and continued on just as they did. I don't think I'll forget that couple. They were so content, so pleased with the world even with its destruction. I think that we need to listen to this wise man. People need to stop and take the time to smell the roses. Or any flower for that matter. Just taking time out of your day to enjoy the pleasures of this earth. It's a simple yet beautiful thing. So today, as you go along your merry way, stop and take the time to smell the roses.

It happened.

It happened without my permission.
It happened without my okay.
It happened without me really accepting it.
I'm graduating in June.
Who said that I was allowed to be in grade 12? I'm much too young. I'm not mature enough.
I always thought the grade 12's were leaders who had it all together. They were mature and so adult-like.
Not like me. I'm not any of what I thought they were.
Maybe they all felt like me. Maybe they were scared. Maybe they felt immature and not ready for it all to happen quite yet. Maybe they didn't have it all together.
I'm graduating in June.
Who said that I shouldn't be in grade 12? I'm practically an adult now. I'm mature. I'm a leader. I have it all together.
Maybe it's okay to feel this way. Maybe it's okay to be scared. Maybe it's okay to feel immature and not ready for it all to happen quite yet. Maybe it's okay to not have it all together.
I'm graduating in June. :)

Sisters

My apologies for the delay. Camping does that.
But whilst camping I have concluded that my sister is frightening perfect for me. We have enough inside jokes to float the titanic and still fight enough to be sisters. Although, our "fighting" looks more like laughing and physical abuse. Unfortunately I have at least 1000 times more buttons to be pushed so she can win in an emotional battle. Fortunately I can beat her up pretty bad in the physical battles.
We have had hysterical laughing fits more times than I can count and we're equally crazy. When I'm feeling a little loopy, she is there to be sane and laugh at me. When she's a little loopy, haha, well I do the same. Kind of. Maybe. Sometimes. Well I usually become loopy too, not going to lie. My sister does that to me. She has a strange affect on people. Or maybe just me. Well anyway, I couldn't live without her. I love you Phobe <3

"Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters."
~White Christmas~

Precipitation

Today I will enlighten you with quotations pertaining to the rain. 

And if you couldn't guess, I have a mad, passionate love for the rain.

    You pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too. That's part of it.

    Denzel Washinton

    The best thing you can do when it's raining is to let it rain.

    Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (I have a hard time believing this is legitimately someone's name)

    Don't pray when it rains if you don't pray when the sun shines.

    Satchel Paige (I love this one, take that you sunshine lovers!)

    When it rains on your parade, look up instead of down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.

    Jerry Chin (His brother's name is Harry)

    Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a         lullaby.

    Langston Hughes

This next quote is for one of my best friends, and someone who shares in my adoration for the rain.

    Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces up, snow is exhilarating, there is really no such         thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.

    John Ruskin

boiled potatoes

Yes the name of my blog is boiled potatoes but this isn't just some random name. No, no. It is directly extracted from a quotation of incredible hilarity and debateably, wisdom. The quotation is as follows: "What a superbly featured room and what excellent boiled potatoes. Many years since I've had such an exemplary vegatable."
This quote is from none other than the infamous Pride and Prejudice. I am quoting the 2005 movie version, one of the best versions. I will now take a moment to describe to you what Pride and Prejudice means to me. Pride and Prejudice is everything. It is the air I breathe, the food for my very soul. Pride and Prejudice is a story of love, misunderstanding, passion, deceit, love, love, love and a fairly crazy family. If you have never seen or read Pride and Prejudice, you are missing out on the biggest thing of your life. You have not lived until you've seen and/or read it. When I watch or read it, I want to sing and dance simultaneously. I get warm fuzzies all inside of me and I get more excited than a six year old at christmas. You could say I'm obsessed, but if you were trying to insult me by calling me that you would fail miserably. I am a proud fanatic of Pride and Prejudice and will be one forevermore. Thank the Lord for Jane Austen.

Emotions

"Don't go wasting your emotions, lay all your love on me."
That's the first line that pops into my head when someone mentions emotions. The second thing is PMS, but we won't get into that.
Emotions are a funny thing. They can be altered almost instantly and stay the same for long periods of time. My mood can be completely based on the song I heard that morning, or what someone told me. People are so delicate, so sensitive. It can be irritating, but when you're having an awful day and 1,2,3,4 by The Plain White Tees comes on the shuffle songs on your ipod, you will thank those ever-changing emotions. So let's raise our glass to emotions. Thanks emotions for being able to change on such short notice. :)

Growing Up

It's a scary thing, growing up. You never know what it's going to be like because it's different for everyone. In less than two weeks I will be doing just that, growing up. Well, that's debateable. I could potentially choose to grow up and accept the fact that maturity comes with age and apparently 17 is that age (for women anyway :P). I could also choose to be immature and have an entire bucket (or two) of fun for my last year before actually being forced to grow up. But there is a third option here. The option in which the immature and the mature combine. Where responsibility meets freedom and you have the power to have those moments in which you can proceed to be a goof or a mature and responsible adult. This option, in my opinion, is the best of both worlds. It takes a wise person to decide when it is appropriate to take things seriously and make the proper preparations for your life and when to let loose and relax, and to just have fun. That is my plan. The best of both worlds. In one world I can postpone growing up, and in the other, embrace it. Where, O growing u, is your victory? Where, O growing up, is your sting?