Little Boxes

In my history of Pop music class I learned about Pete Seeger. I wish I had heard of him before. I blame my lack of popular culture on my ethnicity. Also it makes me really want to learn how to play the banjo.

But anyway, my favorite song is "little boxes" because its so true. It makes me sad that this perfectly describes where I grew up.

Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky,
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

And the people in the houses
All went to the university,
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same,
And there's doctors and lawyers,
And business executives,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

And they all play on the golf course
And drink their martinis dry,
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to school,
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university,
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same.

And the boys go into business
And marry and raise a family
In boxes made of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

Laughing with God

No one laughs at God in a hospital

No one laughs at God in a war

No one’s laughing at God

When they’re starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God

When the doctor calls after some routine tests

No one’s laughing at God

When it’s gotten real late

And their kid’s not back from the party yet

No one laughs at God

When their airplane start to uncontrollably shake

No one’s laughing at God

When they see the one they love, hand in hand with someone else

And they hope that they’re mistaken

No one laughs at God

When the cops knock on their door

And they say we got some bad news, sir

No one’s laughing at God

When there’s a famine or fire or flood

But God can be funny

At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or

Or when the crazies say He hates us

And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke

God can be funny,

When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way

And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini

Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious

Ha ha

Ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital

No one laughs at God in a war

No one’s laughing at God

When they’ve lost all they’ve got

And they don’t know what for

No one laughs at God on the day they realize

That the last sight they’ll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes

No one’s laughing at God when they’re saying their goodbyes

But God can be funny

At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or

Or when the crazies say He hates us

And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke

God can be funny,

When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way

And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini

Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious

No one’s laughing at God

No one’s laughing at God

No one’s laughing at God

We’re all laughing with God

TMI

I need to write down my summer adventures before I forget (and in case anyone was interested in knowing):

So far this summer, I have been to Ireland, Scotland, England, and France. Newark Airport. Washington, DC. Rock Eagle. And Athens (twice).

I wished that I could go to Spain, Africa, Italy, Australia, China, California, Michigan, Arizona, Alaska, Maine, Mt. Rushmore, the moon/outer space.

I've been to the pool zero times. and twice to the lake (once on a boat). My terrible tan line still needs to be fixed.

I've seen He's Just not that Into you, Made of Honor, the Proposal, Away we Go, and When Harry Met Sally.

I am working at the soccer office answering phones, entering data, handling people's money, and above all, making people feel at ease about spending money on their kids.

I am 99% sure that I'm going to buy a car.

I bought a Wii fit and only used it for 5 days :( I still swear it was the best purchase I ever made.

I'm currently working on overhauling my room. It still needs a lot of work. By overhauling I mean getting rid of junk and dusting.

My sister painted the bathroom and I hate it.

I'm super excited about my living arrangement next year. I bought some super awesome stuff at Walmart. I can't wait.

I failed at keeping theYkid updated even though I'm getting a ton of comments from it.

I am addicted to farmtown, farmville, bejeweled, and my guilty pleasure: sorority life

I recently found some girls of facebook that I went to school with when I was in Nicaragua for a month. Its the craziest feeling to find someone you thought was lost for good.

I still don't like to cook

Relay For Life

Today I had one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. For some strange reason I felt compelled to participate in Relay for Life even though I've never felt like cancer has directly affected me. But while I was there tonight, I thought about all the people I knew that have had cancer or were affected by it. Cancer is a pretty big deal. Cancer doesn't discriminate; I am not immune. And as I walked the silent lap, I thought about how I will probably get cancer sooner or later. But then I also thought... it doesn't have to be that way... that's why we are all here isn't it?

I also thought about how lucky I am to have the people that I have in my life. That I shouldn't take them for granted and that I should live every day to the fullest. Seeing the survivors in the Survivor Lap really touched me... these people are strong and have so much courage. They have been through so much and beat the odds. What challenges have I faced? Have I battled them 100% the way they battled cancer?

This is for all of the people that I don't say "I love you" enough to. You are important in my life and I thank you for being there for me. This semester has certainly been a ride, but things are finally going right. I can't forget what it's like to be at the bottom and take the good times for granted.

If you ever need someone to talk to... I don't care who you are. Please call me and talk to me: 7704909328

A New Year

365 days ago I was in Nicaragua listening to the mass chaos that's new years there. We were upset last year that it didn't quite feel like the holidays, but this year wasn't much different lol. Not in a bad way though, I've really enjoyed celebrating Christmas and New Years from a different perspective.
This year was about as hot as last lol. But at least we also had our cold; it flipped flopped from extremes. It was nice being able to enjoy Christmas mass, spending time with friends, and seeing all of the decorations.
Being at college makes the Holidays come up unexpectedly and the economic slump didn't help either. I felt like I didn't have money to spend on gifts. Most people don't know, but my dad has been without a job since last spring. Even though we're doing fine, and my mom has a great new job, we've still had to cut back. Luckily even with little, we're good at making a lot. We bought a great new car for my mom since she crashed the Camery. My family bonded over the Wii, and my mom did a great scavenger hunt for us on Christmas morning to make opening presents more fun since we had picked everything out.
And now I'm spending New Years with my friends and can't wait for what's in store in 2009. I survived a rough year which gives me confidence that I can make it through next year.
I hope everyone ends this year a little more wiser and starts off the new year on the right foot :)

Life @ Nov. 25

In the month of November I:

• Voted
• Made good grades on my tests
• Went on a Saturday getaway to North Georgia with the girls
• Turned 20
• Made a kick ass powerpoint
• Got closer to God
• Knit something other than a scarf
• Got my first caricature made
• Rubbed elbows with the agriculture elite
• Hiked 5 miles (and survived)
• Woke up at 6am so I could go to work with mom
• Applied for a credit card
• Applied for a loan

So I guess you could say I'm moving up in the world haha. I can't wait to study abroad and I am itching to get an internship. I'm getting close to publishing my first website/blog (more to come later). I'm trying to stay afloat in English with a poetry collection and portfolio due next week, so I wrote a terrible poem today:

"Apples"
My tree has a sturdy trunk
With two thick branches,
Loaded with sweet red apples.
Half taste Nicaraguan, half Puerto Rican.

Tree always growing, apples keep coming:
8 big apples 13 medium apples 2 little apples
7 big apples 15 medium apples 9 little apples
More than plenty for apple pie.

My apple family of 5 is tiny in these branches,
But it is just the right size.
It joins two families together
Creating this one big tree.

When we all come together,
Don't expect a normal family gathering.
It’s a party, an overwhelming celebration
With food, laughter, and dancing!

My poetry collection is on family trees and she said it would be good to have a poem you wrote yourself so why not. I hate myself for writing corny poetry...

Thanksgiving is coming up and then November is over and then 2008 is over. Where does the time go?

San Francisco

I was thinking today about the trip I took to San Francisco last month and really it was like celebrating 2 centuries of being alive.
I was actually born in San Francisco (well really Santa Clara if we're going to get specific) 20 years ago and moved away after the earthquake in '89. For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to go back and see what this place was like. This was such a big dream for me that I couldn't say no when the opportunity came up.
Unfortunately I built high expectations for myself. Its not really that great of a place other than to say you've been there. I wouldn't want to live there. While I was there I didn't really enjoy it. But looking back on it, it was a great trip. I think what really made it worth it was seeing the Golden Gate Bridge. I got chills.
So after being gone for 20 years, I went back and saw the places my parent's talked about. And I did it all on my own... well mostly. It was my first big adventure without adults really (although the Savannah trip comes pretty close). Even though it sucked having to pay for it on my own, the trip was that much more mine.
So giving myself a 400$ birthday present to see the state I was born in on my 20th anniversary of being alive was totally worth it.

As a side not I learned the most crazy thing today. Monkeys open their bananas from the opposite end then us. Its actually quite effective. View the instructional video for more details!