I was at church a couple months ago and I saw a woman there. She was by herself, young, pregnant and using sign language to sing and praise God. Church isn't for 'perfect families'. It's for the opposite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUJpJyth3J4
Sunday, January 31, 2010
The Arts.
Fame is one of my favorite movies. Along with Raise Your Voice and Step Up. Why? Because they take place at High Schools for the Performing Arts. I love the arts. Music, photography, painting, dancing, writing..all of it. It will always be around. No matter how much technology advances, you will still need people for the arts. It can never be replaced by machines, or computers. Everything else can. But I'd like to see a computer compose a song entirely by itself. Or choreograph a dance. Or paint a picture. Or write a screen play. The thing is, it can't. It's impossible. You'll always need someone at one end with the outrageous mind and ridiculous creativity of a human being.
"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round heads in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status-quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify, or vilify them. But the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." - Jack Kerouac
"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round heads in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status-quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify, or vilify them. But the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." - Jack Kerouac
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Simple things.
There is a line of jewelery at Target that Katherine and I were looking at today. There were quotes on the cards that the necklaces and such were attached to, having to do with what the jewelery was about. I wrote ones down that I liked, here they are..
Knowing: To understand where certainty ends and faith begins.
"People with clenched fists cannot shake hands" -Gandhi.
Peace: Peace is not something you wish for;It's something you make, something you do, something you are and something you give away.
Shine: To illuminate a space especially the heart with a light from within the soul.
Change: Be the change you wish to see in the world.
Knowing: To understand where certainty ends and faith begins.
"People with clenched fists cannot shake hands" -Gandhi.
Peace: Peace is not something you wish for;It's something you make, something you do, something you are and something you give away.
Shine: To illuminate a space especially the heart with a light from within the soul.
Change: Be the change you wish to see in the world.
Accents
I love accents. In a world where people strive to fit in, and be the same, one thing you can't simply change is the way you speak. The way you say things. It's one last sign that we are all different, no matter how hard we try to be a like.
Let Hope Rise
I went on Flickr today and entered 'Hope' in the search bar. There were over 1,608,416 results. I spent some time looking through all the photos. Every single one of them made me smile.
This was my favorite..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tracietaylorphotography/2690209732/
Hope [hohp] -noun; The feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.
Where would we be if we didn't have hope?
This was my favorite..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tracietaylorphotography/2690209732/
Hope [hohp] -noun; The feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.
Where would we be if we didn't have hope?
Friday, January 29, 2010
Smile, Kid.
For some reason, even if you are being a huge jerk, I don't take offense to it at all if you call me 'Kid'.
My brother and I got into a little battle via facebook chat before. We were thinking of names that we could possibly name another dog we might be getting. He said that there was no name that I could think of that he couldn't relate to a movie. So back and forth, I said a name, he related it to a movie. I started giving him some of the pretty intense, abstract names that they have in the Bible, yet he still connect them. Finally I gave up. His response?
"Well nice try kid, you gave it your best."
And I didn't care about his sarcasm, because he called me kid.
My brother and I got into a little battle via facebook chat before. We were thinking of names that we could possibly name another dog we might be getting. He said that there was no name that I could think of that he couldn't relate to a movie. So back and forth, I said a name, he related it to a movie. I started giving him some of the pretty intense, abstract names that they have in the Bible, yet he still connect them. Finally I gave up. His response?
"Well nice try kid, you gave it your best."
And I didn't care about his sarcasm, because he called me kid.
Don't Forget.
"Remembering is important. Remembering is vital to who you are."
-Dr. Robyn Gangi
Today was my first day of Chorus. My teacher said this, and it really hit me hard.
I sometimes think that the reason I blog, the reason I write so many 25 facts notes, the reason I tell so many stories, the reason Katherine and I kept a Summer Journel this past summer is because I don't ever want to forget. I've seen people who can't remember a thing at Middlebrook Farms and it scares me. What you experience in life, what you go through, who you meet, who your friends are is all part of who you are, and who you'll ever be. What happens when you can't remember any of it, who will you be then?
..That's why I don't want to forget.
-Dr. Robyn Gangi
Today was my first day of Chorus. My teacher said this, and it really hit me hard.
I sometimes think that the reason I blog, the reason I write so many 25 facts notes, the reason I tell so many stories, the reason Katherine and I kept a Summer Journel this past summer is because I don't ever want to forget. I've seen people who can't remember a thing at Middlebrook Farms and it scares me. What you experience in life, what you go through, who you meet, who your friends are is all part of who you are, and who you'll ever be. What happens when you can't remember any of it, who will you be then?
..That's why I don't want to forget.
I love..
..when you can see shadows at night, because the light from the moon is so strong.
..that awkward phase of day during the summer when the sun is down, but it's still bright out.
..staying up all night and seeing the sunrise.
..looking up at airplanes and wishing it was you on that flight going somewhere other than where you are.
..when it rains and is still hot out.
..remembering good memories.
..acting like your 6 years old again and not caring what other people think.
..the fact that life is a journey, and you never know what's coming at you.
..that awkward phase of day during the summer when the sun is down, but it's still bright out.
..staying up all night and seeing the sunrise.
..looking up at airplanes and wishing it was you on that flight going somewhere other than where you are.
..when it rains and is still hot out.
..remembering good memories.
..acting like your 6 years old again and not caring what other people think.
..the fact that life is a journey, and you never know what's coming at you.
..Seriously?
Ever see any of those ridiculously sexist facebook groups? The ones that make you go "..seriously?". I saw one today that was called, "Hi, I'm a girl and '..Shutup and get back in the kitchen.'" Probably the most sexist one I've seen yet. I can't get over how some people are still stuck in the 1920's. Like Chello! Open your eyes and stop being so incredibly close minded. We came close to having a woman president in the past election; countless amounts of women have gone to the moon; half of the people protecting our countries borders and fighting for our freedom are female. Times have changed, women and men are considered equals, now wake up and stop joining, becoming a fan or creating ridiculous facebook groups promoting the exact opposite.
Tuesdays and Thursdays
Something bad always happens to me on Tuesday. I normally receive bad news. The thing is, I love Tuesdays because I get to go to Project Renew but I don't like the news Tuesdays bring. I normally stay awake a bit later than usual on Tuesdays because I'm up thinking about the latest tragedy in my life.
Thursdays I normally get home from Reverb between 9:30 and 10 and go into super thinking mode. I go in my room and just think about everything that's going on. It's like I'm in a trance. You know when you daze off and are just staring at something and kind of day dreaming and then you hear someone calling your name and your aware of it, but you don't want to look away from whatever you're staring at because it's just so comfortable. That's what it's like every Thursday night. I don't want to do anything because my mind is whizzing with thoughts and it's kind of comfortable.
Thursdays I normally get home from Reverb between 9:30 and 10 and go into super thinking mode. I go in my room and just think about everything that's going on. It's like I'm in a trance. You know when you daze off and are just staring at something and kind of day dreaming and then you hear someone calling your name and your aware of it, but you don't want to look away from whatever you're staring at because it's just so comfortable. That's what it's like every Thursday night. I don't want to do anything because my mind is whizzing with thoughts and it's kind of comfortable.
Can You Hear It?
Something about hearing wind chimes at night creeps me out, but at the same time makes me happy. Knowing that you can find music anywhere on this planet, and that you don't need the help of people is so satisfying. Music is everywhere, you just need to take a breath and listen.
The Downfall
I never in my life imagined that I would witness someone start to go insane. It is one of the saddest things in the world; Seeing someone whither away. Irene was always the sweetest old woman at Middlebrook Farms. She always had the nicest things to say and was always trying to keep the peace. A couple of weeks ago, they were testing her out in the Harbor. When I found this out I was baffled, such an incredible, sane woman was possibly being put in the Dementia/Alzheimers wing of the Nursing Home. It made me angry because I thought nothing was wrong with her. I was told she was crying the entire time she was in the Harbor. I'm glad I didn't see it because I would have broken down.
The next week we were back at Middlebrook farms I saw Irene, back in the 'normal' part of the building, and we were trying to get her to play Bingo with us. She was acting nothing like her self; speaking in sentences that literally made no sense, saying that there was a Kite you could hold onto and it would take you anywhere in the world you wanted to go, hearing people when they talked to her but not listening to what they were saying. After 10 minutes with her, I understood why they were thinking about putting her in the Harbor. You never know how long you are going to have. One week she was fine, and the next she was slowing losing it. You would never imagine Irene to be the one who would slowly go insane. God throws a lot of curve balls, but you just need to remember through it all that you'll get that homerun eventually.
The next week we were back at Middlebrook farms I saw Irene, back in the 'normal' part of the building, and we were trying to get her to play Bingo with us. She was acting nothing like her self; speaking in sentences that literally made no sense, saying that there was a Kite you could hold onto and it would take you anywhere in the world you wanted to go, hearing people when they talked to her but not listening to what they were saying. After 10 minutes with her, I understood why they were thinking about putting her in the Harbor. You never know how long you are going to have. One week she was fine, and the next she was slowing losing it. You would never imagine Irene to be the one who would slowly go insane. God throws a lot of curve balls, but you just need to remember through it all that you'll get that homerun eventually.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Stand
"So I'll stand, with arms wide and hearts abonedoned, in awe of the one who gave it all. I'll stand, my sould Lord to you surrendered. All I am is yours, all I am is yours."
Probably a song with the best lyrics. Probably one of my favorite songs of all time. I'm listening to it on repeat.
Probably a song with the best lyrics. Probably one of my favorite songs of all time. I'm listening to it on repeat.
DC MVP
The first day we got to Washington D.C. we went to a park just outside Lincoln Heights and played some football and basketball with a couple of young kids at the park. The basketball court had a little 3 inch ledge to it. During the game Paul Young stepped half way off the ledge and twisted his ankle. Within the next couple of hours his ankle was the size of a softball and the color of ripe blue berries. It was probably the worst sprained ankle I've ever seen. Paul had to spend the week on crutches with (I think) no medicine. The week we'd all been waiting for since we signed the permission slip. The week that was supposed to be painless and problem free. The week we were supposed to bring God to the community of Lincoln Heights. The week Paulie sprained his ankle. The entire week, he didn't complain once. Not once! He's one of the strongest people I know, and for that he deserves to be the DC MVP.
Nightstand Memories
I have a few random things on the night stand next to my bed. All good things though, with good memories behind them. Seeing them everynight before I go to sleep makes me happy. The first thing I notice is a framed picture of myself, Rachael Bitter, Cana Conserva, Katherine Cantillo and Julia Liggio at Beacon Hill the day before Cana left to go back to Thailand. We are all wearing a different colored shirt, all bold. I miss Cana. Being the young girl that she is, she changed my life that summer. Sometimes you never expect people to change your life, but they do. Sometimes you don't even realize how much they have impacted you until they are gone. That's kind of what happened with Cana, but a bit different. At the begining of the summer I just KNEW that it was going to be 'the summer that changed my life.' I had no idea who or what was going to change it but I just had a feeling it was going to happen this summer. The summer Cana came. The summer I made another best friend.
Her story alone is incredible, maybe not to others, but to me it is. Her parents are Missionaries in Thailand. So being only 11, she obviously has to live with them in Thailand. She is not Thai, and gets a lot of flack for that at school. She told us once that people there mock white people. Kids atleast. She also said that she will go up to girls in her grade and start talking to them and without a word they just walk away. But she never acts up about it. Or gets down. She always stays positive. A young girl with a heart so mature is a blessing. I sometimes think of my situations with my family and how something isn't going as I would like it to go. Then I think of Cana, a girl younger than I am, and I think of how much she has sacrificed. How much she has given up for her family. And she never complains. I strive to be like her every chance I get.
The next thing I notice on my nightstand is my glass cup of fine tip sharpies. D.C. memories is what looking at that cup immediatly brings to mind. The week we were in D.C., fine tip Sharpies were the only thing I wrote with. I think those were the only writing utensils I brought with me. I don't know why. I don't know why I even had any because I bought the massive pack of them I use now after DC. I could write a book about that one week in Washington D.C.
A photo booth picture with 4 shots of me, Katherine and Sara from the Coney Island trip making ridiculous faces is also on my nightstand. One of the best days that summer. 22 year olds that bring two girls almost half their age to Coney Island on a day they could be looking for a job GMH.
A sheet of Motion/Reverb paper with a drawing of a Robot and a drawing of a Pumpkin on it with speach bubbles saying nice, funny things is next to the photo booth pictures. Kate drew it for me one day at Reverb when she could tell that I was upset about something. She was right, I was upset about something. But she managed to make me laugh, and definitely make me feel better.
A ring that used to belong to my Grandma. Reminds me that she will always be there.
Her story alone is incredible, maybe not to others, but to me it is. Her parents are Missionaries in Thailand. So being only 11, she obviously has to live with them in Thailand. She is not Thai, and gets a lot of flack for that at school. She told us once that people there mock white people. Kids atleast. She also said that she will go up to girls in her grade and start talking to them and without a word they just walk away. But she never acts up about it. Or gets down. She always stays positive. A young girl with a heart so mature is a blessing. I sometimes think of my situations with my family and how something isn't going as I would like it to go. Then I think of Cana, a girl younger than I am, and I think of how much she has sacrificed. How much she has given up for her family. And she never complains. I strive to be like her every chance I get.
The next thing I notice on my nightstand is my glass cup of fine tip sharpies. D.C. memories is what looking at that cup immediatly brings to mind. The week we were in D.C., fine tip Sharpies were the only thing I wrote with. I think those were the only writing utensils I brought with me. I don't know why. I don't know why I even had any because I bought the massive pack of them I use now after DC. I could write a book about that one week in Washington D.C.
A photo booth picture with 4 shots of me, Katherine and Sara from the Coney Island trip making ridiculous faces is also on my nightstand. One of the best days that summer. 22 year olds that bring two girls almost half their age to Coney Island on a day they could be looking for a job GMH.
A sheet of Motion/Reverb paper with a drawing of a Robot and a drawing of a Pumpkin on it with speach bubbles saying nice, funny things is next to the photo booth pictures. Kate drew it for me one day at Reverb when she could tell that I was upset about something. She was right, I was upset about something. But she managed to make me laugh, and definitely make me feel better.
A ring that used to belong to my Grandma. Reminds me that she will always be there.
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